Ryan Routh ended months of speculation by resting his case Monday without testifying in his federal trial for attempting to assassinate President Trump at a Florida golf course in September 2024.
Judge Aileen Cannon warned that calling character witnesses could open the door to damaging prosecution evidence.
“We’ll proceed,” Routh replied. “Give it your worst.”
When Cannon asked him about the meaning of his statement, Routh added, “They can analyze every moment of my life. We’re here to ascertain the truth.” Routh also complained that he was “extremely limited” by federal rules.
The jury, which had primarily remained stoic throughout the trial, showed its most visible reaction when Routh went off topic during questioning, with some members laughing quietly or exchanging noticeable expressions until Judge Cannon stepped in.
In his defense, Routh called three witnesses who sought to portray him as “gentle, peaceful, and nonviolent.” Routh’s witnesses included a former employee with a drug conviction, his son’s friend Atwell Milsun—now imprisoned for child pornography—and a firearms expert who testified about the SKS rifle central to the case.
Prosecutors pressed the witnesses with pointed questions, asking one if he knew Routh had allegedly offered a $150,000 bounty to kill Trump. Another was questioned about being with Routh during attempts to buy a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and when Routh allegedly aimed a rifle at a Secret Service agent.
Milsun admitted that knowing those details would have changed his view of Routh’s claimed nonviolence. The firearms expert also hurt Routh’s case, conceding under cross-examination that Routh appeared intent on firing the SKS rifle, the Secret Service agent was justified in shooting him from five feet away, and Routh could have hit Trump from his sniper position.
The jury is set to receive instructions Tuesday, while prosecutors consider presenting rebuttal testimony before closing arguments.
Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to kill Donald Trump on his West Palm Beach golf course last year, is defending himself before a Florida jury. https://t.co/IK1j9zWsvI
— ABC News (@ABC) September 22, 2025
