The trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump at a Palm Beach golf course, has been delayed by several months to give his defense more time to review extensive evidence, including hundreds of hours of surveillance footage and police body camera recordings.
The trial, originally scheduled to begin on February 10, 2025, will now begin on September 8, 2025, per a ruling from Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. Cannon also oversaw Trump’s classified documents case before being randomly assigned to Routh’s case.
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According to Routh’s attorneys, more time is needed to conduct mental health evaluations on the would-be assassin, which will determine whether they mount an insanity defense.
Routh is accused of lying in wait for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during a golf outing in September 2024. He allegedly plotted the assassination for weeks, and even managed to aim his rifle in Trump’s direction before being thwarted by a Secret Service agent.
After dropping his weapon and fleeing, he was arrested shortly thereafter on a nearby interstate, having left behind a note detailing his intentions.
The charges against Routh, including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, carry a potential life sentence. Other charges include assaulting a federal officer and three firearms counts. He is also facing state charges of attempted murder after severely injuring a six-year-old girl in a car accident as he fled from police.
The judge also mandated that any motions related to Routh’s mental competency must be filed by early February, with site visits to the scene of the incident completed by the end of that month.
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