‘Complete the job’: Man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump wrote chilling letter, prosecutors allege

The man accused of plotting to shoot Donald Trump at his golf course in Florida wrote a telling letter months before, prosecutors allege.

The man accused of plotting to shoot former US president Donald Trump at his golf course in Florida wrote a letter explicitly stating “this was an assassination attempt”, prosecutors allege.

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, appeared in court on Monday, US time, where a judge denied him bail. The judge in West Palm Beach, Florida ruled that Routh was a serious flight risk and a danger to the community.

Routh has been charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. On Monday prosecutors indicated they also intended to charge him with the attempted assassination of Mr Trump, pending a grand jury’s approval.

He has yet to enter a plea for the gun-related charges. An arraignment has been scheduled for next Monday, September 30.

A motorcade believed to be carrying Ryan Wesley Routh departing the courthouse in West Palm Beach today. Picture: Giorgio Viera/AFP

Police officers outside the courthouse. Picture: Giorgio Viera/AFP

Among the new evidence revealed by prosecutors in filings on Monday is the aforementioned letter allegedly left, by Routh, to a friend. In it, he offers a reward of $US150,000 to anybody who can “complete the job”.

“Dear world. This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you,” the letter reads.

“I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job, and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.

“Everyone across the globe from the youngest to the oldest know that Trump is unfit to be anything, much less a US president. US presidents must at bare minimum embody the moral fabric that is America and be kind, caring and selfless and always stand up for humanity.”

This letter was allegedly dropped off, in a box, at an unidentified person’s home “several months” before Routh’s arrest.

The box also contained gun ammunition, building materials, phones and a metal pipe. The unidentified recipient opened it after learning about the apparent assassination attempt.

Routh’s mugshot. Picture: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

Donald Trump. Picture: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP

In addition to the letter, prosecutors also revealed that Routh had allegedly stalked Mr Trump for a month before his arrest.

The new court documents, citing mobile phone data, claim the defendant travelled to south Florida on August 14, a full month before he was caught fleeing Mr Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach on September 15.

Law enforcement has previously alleged Routh lay in wait for about 12 hours, starting in the small hours of the morning, for Mr Trump near the sixth hole of the course. Security spotted a weapon protruding from bushes near the hole, and pursued him. Routh was arrested without firing a shot, and the Secret Service says he never had a line of sight to Mr Trump.

Authorities found an SKS-type automatic rifle, a scope, and a Go-Pro camera in the shrubbery. The SKS is a Soviet-era forerunner to the AK-47.

The rifle found in the bushes.

FBI agents also searched Routh’s vehicle, a Nissan Xterra SUV. They allegedly found extra licence plates, a passport, a Hawaiian driver’s licence and six separate mobile phones.

The attempted assassination charge, should it be confirmed by a grand jury, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

‘Free to assassinate’: Defendant’s book emerges

Routh self-published a book last year in which he told readers they were “free to assassinate” Mr Trump.

Routh’s book, rather longwindedly titled Ukraine’s Unwinnable War: The fatal flaw of democracy, world abandonment and the global citizen; Taiwan, Afghanistan, North Korea, WWIII and the End of Humanity, was published in February of 2023.

It mainly focuses on the war in Ukraine, which is defending itself against an invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But the book does also mention Mr Trump, albeit rarely. Specifically, Routh suggests he regrets voting for Mr Trump in 2016, because his election led to the termination of an Obama-administration era deal with Iran intended to stop its development of nuclear weapons.

Ryan Wesley Routh. Picture: AFPTV

“I must take part of the blame for the ret***ed child we elected for our next president that ended up being brainless, but I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake and Iran I apologise,” Routh writes.

“You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me for that error in judgment and the dismantling of the deal.”

At another point, quite late in the book, Routh suggests rather chillingly that he is approaching the end of his life.

“As you might have figured out by now this story is also the conclusion of my life,” Routh says in a chapter titled “Conclude”.

“It has been my goal to make every country, leader and civilian around the world mad at me. While most hide in the shadows and cover their face for every photo I will sacrifice myself if need be to push the war and the world forward.

“I will certainly have made every citizen an enemy of me, but the goal is for them to hate me as much as Putin and hopefully render an even greater resolve.

“I am one insignificant man, so let the mafias and kill squads hunt me down and end my life. But if I have at least challenged one person to do better, or pushed one leader to ponder their decisions and actions, then maybe my life will be worth the meagre change.

“I can only hope that those I have pissed off will think just a little bit about their actions and how they affect others.

“I simply hope that some as crazy as I will continue the work that must be done after I am gone.

“Captain Obvious ends up who I must be for the short time that I have left. Please do not fail our neighbours and let my life be a waste of time.”

– with AFP