US media have identified Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old self-employed affordable housing builder from Hawaii, as the suspected would-be assassin of former President Donald Trump.
The identification follows an incident on Sunday where Routh was arrested after US Secret Service agents fired on him near Trump’s Florida golf course.
According to reports, Routh was armed with an AK-47 style rifle and had been hiding in the shrubbery before emerging and fleeing in a black car. He was subsequently tracked down and apprehended by authorities.
Routh, who has a lengthy arrest record and is known for his outspoken political views, had previously expressed strong support for Ukraine’s resistance against the Russian invasion. In a March 2022 post on X, Routh declared his willingness to volunteer and fight for Ukraine, emphasizing his commitment to the cause.
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CNN and CBS have reported that Routh, who had frequently commented on political matters, including criticism of Trump, had been involved in various discussions about current events. AFP had interviewed him in Kyiv in April 2022, where he was participating in a demonstration in support of Ukrainians in Mariupol. During that interview, Routh described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “terrorist” and called for global intervention in Ukraine.
The incident at Trump’s golf course occurred as the former president was golfing, and Routh’s actions prompted a significant response from the Secret Service.
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The case has drawn attention to the intense political and international tensions surrounding both US domestic politics and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As President Joe Biden’s term nears its end, the future of US foreign policy toward Ukraine remains uncertain, with potential implications depending on the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.
