man guilty of donald trump assassination attempt tries to stab himself in the neck

A man who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen as he heard his guilty verdict.

Ryan Wesley Routh,59,grabbed the writing instrument as he was found guilty on all five counts in a Florida federal courthouse this afternoon,NBC News reported.

His daughter,Sara,screamed as it all unfolded.

‘Dad,don’t hurt yourself,’ she said as US Marshalls and bailiffs rushed to restrain Routh and escort him out of the Fort Pierce courtroom.

Courtroom sketch shows Ryan Routh trying to stab himself in the neck with a pen,after being found guilty of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course last year (Picture: AP)

Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested in Martin County,Florida,after an assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in September 2024 (Picture: Getty Images)

Routh returned to the room shortly afterward,in handcuffs. He did not have blood on his white shirt and did not appear to have injured himself.

After his proceedings were complete,he was led out by authorities.

‘We love you,dad,’ shouted Routh’s son,Adam.

Sara added: ‘I love you and we will get you out,don’t worry.’

Courtroom sketch shows US District Judge Aileen Cannon listening as a prosecutor speaks during the trial of Ryan Routh (left) (Picture: AP)

Routh seemed to wink at his children as he exited.

He was found guilty of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate,possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence,assaulting a federal officer,felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Routh had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

He faces life in prison at his sentencing,scheduled for December 18.

Ryan Routh poses in a jail booking photograph in Greensboro,North Carolina (Picture: Reuters)

Routh hid in bushes as Trump,then the Republican candidate for president,stood at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on September 15,2024.

A Secret Service agent spotted Routh with a firearm at the fence line near the fifth hole and shot at him. South fled the scene in a vehicle and was arrested later that afternoon on Interstate 95 in Martin County.

During Routh’s two-week trial,he represented himself and gave a rambling closing argument arguing that he committed no crime because he never opened fire at Trump.

‘To merely have a weapon in the presence of another does not mean intent,’ said Routh.

Courtroom sketch shows US District Judge Aileen Cannon listening to Ryan Routh during his trial (Picture: AP)

Twelve minutes into the monologue,Routh complained that he was not able to bring more witnesses to the stand and US District Judge Aileen Cannon scolded him for not following her order to ‘stay within the bounds of the case’. The judge rejected Routh’s request to have two public defenders who initially represented him finish his closing arguments.

The jury deliberated for two-and-a-half hours.

Trump rejoiced at the verdict,calling Routh ‘an evil man with an evil intention,and they caught him’.

‘Congratulations to Attorney General Pam Bondi,Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche,and the entire DOJ team on the conviction,in Florida,of the person who attempted an assassination on my life,’ he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

President Donald Trump thanked the Justice Department team and law enforcement after Ryan Wesley Routh was found guilty on all counts (Picture: Truth Social/@realDonaldTrump)

‘The trial was meticulously handled,and I would like to thank the Judge and Jury for their time,professionalism,and patience…

‘I would also like to thank the Secret Service,Department of Florida Law Enforcement,and the wonderful person who spotted him running from the site of the crime,and acted by following him,and getting all information on car type and license plate to the Sheriff’s Office,IMMEDIATELY,which led to his arrest and conviction.’

Trump concluded that it was ‘a very big moment for JUSTICE IN AMERICA’.

Routh has acted erratically before. He laughed and smiled as he walked,shackled,to attend his first court appearance.