Deeper Look: Everything Known about Trump Shooter Ryan Wesley Routh
All-source compilation of what is known
Ryan Wesley Routh, a figure with a complex and troubling background, has come to public attention in connection with an alleged assassination attempt targeting former U.S. President Donald Trump. His story is one of conflicting allegiances, erratic behavior, and a life marked by contradictions. This report delves into everything that is currently known about Routh—his political affiliations, personal history, social media presence, and the events leading up to the incident at Trump’s Florida golf course.
Early Life and Criminal Background
Routh’s criminal record dates back to the early 2000s. Between 2002 and 2010, he was charged and convicted of several felonies in Guilford County, North Carolina. His offenses included carrying a concealed weapon, resisting arrest, driving with a revoked license, possession of stolen property, and even a hit-and-run involving a motor vehicle . This early criminal history suggests a pattern of disregard for the law, long before he became involved in the current political climate.
In 2002, Routh’s name first appeared in local news after leading authorities on a car chase and eventually barricading himself at a roofing company. He was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a machine gun, described as a “weapon of mass destruction” in the report . These early run-ins with the law paint a picture of someone who was both impulsive and potentially dangerous.
Political Affiliations: A Voter’s Confusion
Routh’s political affiliations have been a point of contention. It is confirmed through voter records that he registered as an unaffiliated voter in North Carolina in 2012 . While some reports suggest that he voted for Trump in the 2016 election, there is no confirmed record of him voting in that year’s presidential election. According to public records, he most recently voted in North Carolina’s Democratic primary in March 2024 . Moreover, campaign finance records reveal that since 2019, Routh has made 19 small donations, totaling about $140, to ActBlue, a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates .
This duality of being registered as a Democrat while having, at times, expressed apparent support for Trump speaks to the contradictions in Routh’s life. Despite reports that he may have voted for Trump in 2016, his voter history does not support this claim, adding another layer of ambiguity to his motivations.
Personal Life and Career
Routh lived the majority of his life in North Carolina before moving to Hawaii in 2018 . In Hawaii, he and his son, Oran, operated a company that built sheds, an endeavor that later became embroiled in controversy. According to an archived webpage for their business, the company promised small, affordable homes for island residents .
However, Routh’s business practices were often questionable. For instance, one client, Saili Levi, paid Routh a large deposit for a project that was never completed. When Levi demanded his money back, Routh’s erratic responses prompted Levi to walk away from the project entirely, fearing for his family’s safety .
In statements to the media, Routh’s son, Oran, has portrayed his father as a “loving and caring” individual . Oran has expressed disbelief at the accusations surrounding the assassination attempt, saying that the man being described in the media is not the father he knows . This juxtaposition between Routh’s public actions and his son’s defense again underscores the complexity of his personality.
Routh’s Radicalization and Involvement in Ukraine
A significant turning point in Routh’s life came with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He expressed fervent support for Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, frequently posting on social media about his desire to fight in the conflict. He even claimed to have traveled to Ukraine, although these assertions remain unverified .
Routh’s social media posts during this time reveal his growing radicalization. In one post from March 2022, he declared: “I AM WILLING TO FLY TO KRAKOW AND GO TO THE BORDER OF UKRAINE TO VOLUNTEER AND FIGHT AND DIE” . This zeal carried over into an interview he gave to Newsweek, where he lamented the lack of foreign support for Ukraine. “We need to elect leaders with a backbone… We’re not going to tolerate this type of behavior from Russia,” he said .
At the height of his involvement, Routh became the self-appointed director of the International Volunteer Center, an organization he claimed was helping to recruit foreign fighters for Ukraine. He boasted about his attempts to enlist Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban, though he admitted that the Ukrainian government was hesitant to accept them .
Routh’s obsession with the conflict even led him to write a book titled Ukraine’s Unwinnable War, where he confessed to his failures as a soldier. In the book, Routh writes that he “gave up and quit,” calling himself “the worst of humans” for being unable to endure the hardships of war .
Routh’s Social Media Presence
Routh’s social media posts paint a disturbing picture of a man consumed by ideological fervor. His Twitter (now X) account, active since January 2020, is filled with extreme views on a variety of topics, from Black Lives Matter to Taiwanese sovereignty and the COVID-19 pandemic. He accused China of biological warfare, calling the COVID-19 virus an “attack” .
On Facebook, Routh encouraged others to join the fight in Ukraine, portraying himself as a martyr willing to die for his cause. His posts are replete with hyperbolic language and emotional appeals, as seen in one post where he says, “We need to burn the Kremlin to the ground” .
In July 2022, Routh’s social media activity took another turn when he began advocating for foreign fighters to join Taiwan’s defense against China. He even set up a voicemail service urging potential recruits to contact him via encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram .
Business Deals and Financial Struggles
Despite his grandiose aspirations in the realm of international conflict, Routh’s business ventures frequently ended in failure. His roofing and construction business in North Carolina was mired in litigation, with over 200 court cases involving him, ranging from unpaid debts to tax delinquencies . After moving to Hawaii, his company, Camp Box Engineering, promised to build affordable homes but left at least one client, Saili Levi, dissatisfied and fearful for his safety .
Conclusion
Ryan Wesley Routh is a man of contradictions: a self-professed warrior for justice who failed to follow through on his lofty ideals, a man with a history of criminal behavior yet a father described as “loving and caring” by his son. His political leanings remain ambiguous although he voted in the Democratic primary in North Carolina and must be presumed to be a democrat at present. ,His s mental state leading up to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump is a question mark. What is clear, however, is that Routh’s actions reflect a life marred by erratic behavior, financial struggles, and an obsession with foreign conflicts.
A born loser ! True Democrat!