Ryan Wesley Routh attempted to assassinate former president Donald Trump on Sept. 15 at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

The assassination attempt failed, but Routh later appeared to admit his intentions in a letter and offered $150,000 for anyone who could “finish the job," as the Daily Mail reports.

Routh, 58, was arrested following the incident and appeared i federal court on Monday for a detention hearing. According to federal prosecutors, Routh had planned the attack for some time and had even scouted Trump’s public appearances beforehand.

He wrote a letter criticizing Trump’s foreign policies and addressed it to “the world,” detailing his failed attempt and offering a reward for someone else to carry out the plan.

Routh Spotted with a Rifle at Golf Club

According to law enforcement, a Secret Service agent first noticed Routh with a rifle at the Trump International Golf Club. Shots were fired, but Routh fled the scene when the agent fired back.

At the time of the incident, Trump was on the 5th hole of the golf course, while shots were fired on the 6th hole. The former president was quickly escorted off the course by security.

Authorities later tracked Routh to a black Nissan Xterra, which he had been seen fleeing toward. Inside the vehicle, investigators found multiple incriminating items, including six cellphones, a list of Trump’s public appearances, and a Google search for directions from Palm Beach, Florida, to Mexico.

Evidence Found in Routh’s Vehicle

In addition to the cellphones and list of appearances, investigators uncovered several other items that raised concerns about Routh’s broader intentions. The vehicle contained 12 pairs of gloves, a Hawaiian driver’s license in Routh’s name, and a notebook filled with names and phone numbers linked to Ukraine. The notebook also contained Routh’s criticisms of the governments of China and Russia, hinting at his broader political frustrations.

Further complicating the case, Routh had left a box with a witness months before the assassination attempt. This box, when later opened by the witness, contained ammunition, a metal pipe, various building materials, and a letter admitting Routh’s intentions to assassinate Trump. The letter not only confessed his plan but also expressed doubts about its success, predicting he might fail and calling on others to finish what he started.

Routh’s Letter: $150,000 Reward for “Finishing the Job”

Routh’s letter, which was later submitted to federal authorities, made his intentions disturbingly clear. He acknowledged his failure and urged others to take up the cause. “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you,” Routh wrote. “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.”

Routh’s criticisms of Trump extended beyond personal grievances. In the letter, he condemned Trump’s foreign policies and his suitability for leadership. “Everyone across the globe from the youngest to the oldest knows that Trump is unfit to be anything, much less U.S. president,” Routh wrote, suggesting that Trump lacked the moral integrity to lead the nation.

Details of Routh’s Plot Uncovered

As authorities continued to investigate, more details of Routh’s planning came to light. Federal prosecutors revealed that Routh had kept a detailed list of Trump’s public appearances, indicating that he had been tracking the former president’s movements in the lead-up to the assassination attempt. In addition to his internet search for a route to Mexico, Routh’s possession of numerous phones suggested a broader network of communication, although no evidence has yet confirmed any accomplices.

The contents of the vehicle and Routh’s letter pointed to a man deeply frustrated with global political dynamics, particularly involving the United States, Ukraine, China, and Russia. His criticisms of these governments were scrawled in a notebook found in his car, though it remains unclear how these grievances specifically motivated his attempt on Trump’s life.

Routh’s Federal Court Appearance

Routh appeared in federal court on Monday, where he faced a detention hearing. Federal prosecutors have already submitted a detailed factual proffer outlining the events of the attempted assassination, as well as the evidence gathered from Routh’s vehicle and the witness who received his box of materials.

The court considered the severity of the charges, the substantial evidence against Routh, and his confession letter in determining that he would be detained ahead of trial.

Conclusion

Ryan Wesley Routh’s failed assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump has left many questions unanswered.

After being spotted with a rifle at Trump International Golf Club, Routh fled the scene, but he later admitted his intentions in a chilling letter offering $150,000 for someone else to complete the job.

Authorities uncovered a trove of evidence in his vehicle, including cellphones, a list of Trump’s public appearances, and a notebook criticizing global governments.