Man Charged in Trump Plot Tried to Buy Rocket Launcher

Ryan Wesley Routh. Photo courtesy of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Public domain.

Ryan Wesley Routh didn’t just fantasize about taking down a former U.S. president - prosecutors say he actively pursued weapons of war to pull it off. The North Carolina man, now 58, stands accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump in September 2024, and new court filings reveal a far more elaborate plan than anyone expected.

From Backyard Sniper to Global Arms Shopper

Federal prosecutors say Routh used an encrypted messaging app to try and buy a rocket launcher and an anti-aircraft missile from someone he thought had access to Ukraine’s wartime stockpile. The request came weeks before the failed attack in Florida, and the messages spell out a motive that sounds straight out of an espionage thriller.

According to the filing, Routh wrote: “Send me an rpg (rocket-propelled grenade) or stinger (anti-aircraft missile) and I will see what we can do … (Trump) is not good for Ukraine,” as reported by The Guardian.

He even acknowledged how bold the idea sounded: “Going to the local store for such an item is impossible – however you are at war so those items lost and destroyed daily – one missing would not be noticed,” according to the same court documents, the New York Post reports.

Prosecutors say he also sent his contact a photo of Trump’s plane and noted, “he gets on and off daily.”

Buried in the Bushes and Busted on the Highway

On Sept. 15, 2024, a Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of an SKS-style semiautomatic rifle poking out of the greenery near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Authorities say Routh had created a sniper’s hide and camped out for up to 12 hours. Before Trump appeared, the agent fired. Routh dropped his weapon and fled in an SUV.

He didn’t make it far. Deputies arrested him 40 minutes later on I-95 in Martin County. Inside the SUV, investigators reportedly found a GoPro camera, notes about joining the war in Ukraine, two backpacks, and a cache of supplies - including food, digital equipment, and the rifle with a scope and extended magazine.

Guns, Missiles, and a Mexican Exit Plan

The recent federal filing also details Routh’s efforts to buy a .50-caliber rifle in Fort Pierce and search for weapons in Hawaii. Prosecutors say he scoured gun shops and websites relentlessly. He also coordinated an escape plan with a man in Mexico named Ramiro, who supposedly had experience smuggling people across borders.

From February to September 2024, the two reportedly messaged on WhatsApp, in what prosecutors describe as a plot to flee after the hit.

The evidence doesn’t stop at messages. Prosecutors argue the attempted weapons purchases and surveillance trips to Trump’s airport amount to clear intent. The filing states: “Attempting to purchase a destructive device to blow up President Trump’s airplane lies squarely within the realm of an attempt on his life,” according to The Guardian.

What Comes Next for Routh?

Routh pleaded not guilty to five charges, including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate. His trial is set to begin Sept. 8, 2025. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

His defense team continues to fight to exclude certain evidence - including an eyewitness - from the proceedings. Meanwhile, the case continues to raise concerns about lone-wolf extremism, political violence, and how far one man went to change the outcome of an election.

References: Accused would-be Trump assassin Ryan Wesley Routh tried to buy rocket launcher from Ukraine, prosecutors say | Accused would-be Trump assassin tried to buy Ukraine rocket launcher, filing says