Suspect in Trump’s Attempted Assassination revealed
Former U.S. President Trump experienced another attempted assassination on the 15th at his own golf club. The suspect fled but was arrested on a nearby interstate highway. The New York Post reported that the suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, had supported Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. He had also posted strange messages on social media, inviting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to his home.
The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, said the suspect is Routh, a 58-year-old from Hawaii. The Associated Press also quoted three law enforcement officials confirming that the arrested suspect is Routh.
According to the New York Times, Routh was interviewed by them in 2023 for an article about Americans volunteering to fight in Ukraine. Routh himself has no military experience but claimed that after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, he went there to recruit Afghan soldiers. He told the Times, “I’m just an American citizen who wants to help,” mentioning that he had visited Washington, D.C., to meet some politicians and urge increased support for Ukraine.
The New York Post reported that on March 8, 2020, Routh posted on social media platform X, expressing support for Gabbard: “We can’t let these two old men beat Trump, no way.” However, Gabbard later withdrew from the primaries and announced her support for Biden. The “two old men” referred to the then-nominees Biden and Vermont Senator Sanders.
Two years later, Gabbard left the Democratic Party and announced last month her support for Trump’s 2024 presidential bid.
In addition, in May 2020, Routh posted a strange message on X, inviting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to his home in Hawaii. He wrote: “#KimJongUn, I wish to invite you to vacation in Hawaii. We would be happy to host you. During the COVID pandemic, our beaches are empty and secluded; it would be our honor to invite you. I am the leader here and can arrange the entire trip. Please come.”
The New York Post pointed out that Routh’s X and Facebook accounts have been taken down by authorities. However, others on X have shared screenshots of Routh’s posts, showing that he seemed to support Taiwan. He had hoped to send thousands of NATO-trained Afghan soldiers to Taiwan to help defend its coast and had set up a website called “Taiwan Foreign Legion” (taiwanforeignlegion.com) to recruit volunteers to protect Taiwan. Currently, the Taiwan Foreign Legion website can still be found online.
According to records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Routh was indicted in 2002 for possessing weapons of mass destruction.