Court documents unsealed this week reveal that Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, allegedly tried to obtain a rocket-propelled grenade launcher (RPG) and other military-grade weapons from a contact in Ukraine, as part of a six-month-long plan to kill the President, as Fox News reported.
Image Credit: © Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Federal prosecutors say Routh told his Ukrainian associate to:
“Send me a rpg [rocket-propelled grenade] or stinger, and I will see what we can do… [Trump] is not good for Ukraine.”
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According to the documents, Routh inquired whether the weapons could be shipped to him and claimed:
“I need equipment so that Trump cannot get elected.”
He also remarked that battlefield weapons “get lost all the time” and “one missing would not be noticed.”
As he explored acquiring a rocket or missile launcher, Routh allegedly shared an image of President Trump’s aircraft with the caption:
“Trump’s plane, he gets on and off daily.”
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Prosecutors say this detail reflected Routh’s plan to directly target the President’s aircraft.
Court filings submitted Monday by Routh’s defense argue that law enforcement improperly influenced an eyewitness during the identification process. The 13-page motion states that the witness, referred to as T.C.M., felt pressured by the presence of multiple law enforcement agencies.
“All of these circumstances created a heightened pressure to make the identification. It would not be difficult for any well-meaning individual to identify the one, and only, person law enforcement presented to them in this manner.”
Routh Court Docs – Rocket Launcher Request from Ukraine to Kill Trump
According to authorities, Routh, a North Carolina native, had been planning the assassination for at least six months.
Between March and April 2024, he traveled to West Palm Beach to conduct reconnaissance. After returning home, he gave a friend a box containing a “Dear World” letter outlining his intentions, burner phones, and ammunition.
From February through September 2024, prosecutors say Routh coordinated with a contact named “Ramiro” in Mexico to plan his escape. In messages on WhatsApp, he told “Ramiro” he would arrive in Mexico City after September 15.
On August 25, 2024, around the time he attempted to acquire the RPG, Routh also allegedly sought to purchase a .50 caliber sniper rifle from a dealer in Fort Pierce, Florida. He researched gun shops in Hawaii and browsed Craigslist listings in South Florida. He also contacted a friend in North Carolina for pricing and availability.
On August 14, 2024, Routh returned to Florida. Using a burner phone, he tracked Trump’s movements, flight schedules, local hospitals, forensic methods, and escape routes, according to prosecutors.
On September 15, 2024, Routh set up a sniper position near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. He was armed with an SKS military-style rifle, which officials say he had obtained illegally. Secret Service agents spotted him before he could fire.
After being confronted, agents fired at Routh, who then fled and left the rifle behind. He was captured later that day in Martin County, carrying fake identification, stolen license plates, burner phones, and a written escape plan.
Routh pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He also faces a December charge of attempted murder for allegedly causing an accident during the police pursuit that nearly killed a young girl.
His trial is scheduled to begin on September 8, 2025.
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