Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect charged with gun offenses following a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump, has had numerous run-ins with the law, with a criminal record going back to the late 1990s.
The 58-year-old was arrested on Sunday in connection with the attempt to shoot the former president, 78, at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Investigations into Routh’s background since the incident show a 2002 felony conviction for possessing a weapon of mass destruction, a 2010 felony for stolen goods, and numerous misdemeanors.
With Routh in custody, social media users also began claiming that he had been on the FBI “radar” since 2019.
Law enforcement investigate the area around Trump International Golf Club (left) after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on September 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Ryan Routh (right), who was interviewed by Newsweek Romania in 2022 about Ukraine war. Social media users have claimed that Routh was on the FBI’s “radar” since 2019.
L-R: Joe Raedle/Getty Images; Newsweek Romania
The Claim
A post on X, formerly Twitter, by user @TaraBull808, posted on September 17, 2024, which has been viewed 40,000 times, said: “The FBI was aware of Ryan Routh, who attempted to assassinate Trump yesterday while golfing, since 2019.
“Pass it on.”
Conservative activist Ryan Fournier also posted on X: “Ryan Routh was on the FBI’s radar since 2019.
“Clearly that means nothing, because it seems like anytime an atrocity is committed, those people are usually on the radar.
“This is a joke.”
User @DramaAlert also posted on X: “Trump’s attempted assassin Ryan Routh has been on the FBI’s radar since 2019, according to officials.”
The Facts
While Routh has been known to the FBI, claims of being on its radar since 2019 may be misleading without further information.
As reported by Newsweek, the bureau appeared with other security officials at a news conference on Monday afternoon sharing details about Routh’s arrest and the events leading to it.
Jeffrey Veltri, special agent in charge of the Miami field office, said at a news conference Monday that the bureau was tipped off that Routh was a “felon in possession of a firearm.”
“In following up on the tip, the alleged complainant was interviewed and did not verify providing the initial information,” Veltri said. “The FBI passed that information to local law enforcement in Honolulu.”
The investigation was then closed due to lack of additional information.
In a statement, the FBI listed historical charges and convictions Routh received, including multiple felony charges for stolen goods between 1997 to 2010 and his charge and conviction in North Carolina in 2002 for possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
While it’s true the FBI was made aware of Routh in 2019 and made efforts to investigate a complaint about him, since the matter was passed to other law enforcement and the probe closed, suggesting that he has been on their radar or suggestions that he was being watched is misleading.
Newsweek has contacted a media representative at the FBI via email for comment.
The Ruling
Needs Context.
Although a tip about Routh was passed to the FBI in 2019, the probe was closed after the tip’s complainant “did not verify providing the initial information.” That information was passed to Honolulu law enforcement.
While it’s fair to say that the FBI was made aware of Routh in some capacity in 2019, suggesting that he has been on an active “radar” or watchlist since list is misleading, based on statements made by officials.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek‘s Fact Check team
