Ryan Wesley Routh, the 58-year-old man arrested on September 15, 2024, in connection with an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, has a complex and controversial background.
Routh, a self-employed affordable housing builder from Hawaii, was armed with an AK-47-style rifle during the incident at Trump's West Palm Beach golf club.
Routh's digital footprint reveals a disillusioned former Trump supporter who became an ardent advocate for Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. He traveled to Ukraine and participated in rallies supporting Ukrainian troops, as evidenced by video and images geolocated to Kyiv’s Independence Square.
Despite his fervor, Routh was rejected by the Ukrainian Foreign Legion due to his age and lack of battlefield expertise. Instead, he was advised to help "recruit and coordinate" volunteers.
In interviews and social media posts, Routh expressed a willingness to fight and die for Ukraine. He attempted to recruit Afghan soldiers to join the conflict, even suggesting illegal means to move them from Pakistan and Iran to Ukraine. His efforts, however, were met with skepticism and scorn from other foreign volunteers, who described him as a "wack job" and a "crazy idiot."
Routh's involvement with Ukraine has been exploited by Russian propagandists to spread disinformation. Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian Prime Minister and ally of Vladimir Putin, speculated on social media that Routh might have been hired by the "neo-nazi regime in Kiev" for the assassination attempt on Trump.
Despite his rejection by the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, Routh continued to support Ukraine through social media, where he posted violent rhetoric and advocated for civilian involvement in preventing future wars. His arrest has brought renewed scrutiny to his activities and motivations, painting a picture of a troubled individual whose actions have far-reaching implications.
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