Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man with a criminal history and a wide range of political and social views, was arrested in Florida for an alleged assassination attempt on a GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, AP News reports.
Routh had portrayed himself as a man involved in humanitarian efforts and international conflicts. He claimed to have built housing for homeless people in Hawaii and attempted to recruit fighters for Ukraine during its war with Russia. However, Ukrainian officials stated that Routh had no formal involvement with the army and characterized his suggestions as “delusional.”
His online presence reveals a mix of far-left and far-right political views, voicing support for different political figures across the spectrum, including Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard, Nikki Haley, and at one point, Donald Trump. However, in his 2023 self-published book “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War,” he criticized Trump, especially for the Capitol riot and his decision to leave the Iran nuclear deal, even going so far as to call for Iran to assassinate Trump.
Routh had a criminal past, including felony convictions for possession of explosives and stolen goods, and had avoided prison through plea deals. Despite this, he was able to obtain a weapon, raising legal concerns. He had relocated to Hawaii in 2018 to work with his son on building small structures to address homelessness.
