Ryan Routh represents himself as jury selection begins in Trump case

The federal trial of Ryan Routh, who allegedly sought to assassinate President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in September 2024, has begun with jury selection in Fort Pierce, Fla.

Routh, who is representing himself, appeared in court wearing a gray suit and ankle shackles as the voir dire process got underway. The jury selection process will determine 12 jurors and four alternates for the trial.

During jury selection, Routh asked potential jurors about their views on various topics, including the war in Gaza and the U.S. potentially acquiring Greenland. However, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Routh’s questions as politically charged and irrelevant to jury selection.

Routh also revealed that a former co-worker listed as a potential witness would not testify on his behalf, as he lives in Costa Rica and does not want to get arrested or deported. Another potential witness listed by Routh is also unlikely to appear due to scheduled travel to Vietnam during the trial.

Prosecutors allege that Routh staked out a spot in shrubbery on Sept. 15, 2024, and aimed a rifle at Trump while he was playing golf at his country club. Routh then pointed the rifle at a Secret Service agent before abandoning the weapon and fleeing the scene.

Routh faces federal charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, as well as assaulting a federal officer and various gun violations. The trial is expected to last four weeks, with opening statements set to begin on Thursday.

Stay tuned for more updates on the trial of Ryan Routh as it progresses.

This article was written by Diana Stancy, a politics reporter with Fox News Digital covering the White House.