By all accounts, it was longtime Greensboro resident Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who allegedly waited in the bushes behind a fence around a Florida golf course in an attempt to put a bullet into former President Donald Trump, who’s now running again to be the next president of the United States.
As with anything and everything in this heated election season, members of both political parties are pointing fingers at each other and freely tossing around supposed reasons why Routh apparently wanted Trump dead.
Since 1998, Routh was arrested many, many, times – and he was often convicted of crimes, including felonies.
As for political motives, no one can be certain, but his voting registration and other voting practices are public record. He first registered to vote in Guilford County in 1988 and, at that time, he registered as a Democrat.
In 2002, however, he changed his registration to unaffiliated.
Soon after that, he was kicked off the voter rolls for being a felon after he was found to be in possession of a fully automatic machine gun when he barricaded himself inside the former United Roofing building on West Lee Street in Greensboro. He gave himself up after a three-hour standoff with police.
Routh reregistered in 2004 as unaffiliated and stayed on the voter rolls until 2010 when he was once again kicked off the voter list after a felony conviction for possession of stolen goods.
The last time he voted was on March 5 of this year in the primary in Guilford County, at which time he requested a Democratic ballot.
As for his previous political record, here’s his voting history. All of these votes were in Guilford County…
11/08/1988 General, In-Person, Election Day
11/06/1990 General, In-Person, Election Day
02/26/1991 Municipal, In-Person, Election Day
11/03/1992 General, In-Person, Election Day
11/05/1996 General, In-Person, Election Day
11/07/2000 General, Provisional Ballot. Election Day
11/04/2008 General, In-Person, Election Day
10/06/2009 Municipal, In-Person, Election Day
11/03/2009 Municipal, In-Person, Election Day
11/02/2012 Reregistration after serving time as a felon
11/06/2012 General, Early Voting
03/05/2024 Primary, In-Person, Election Day (Democratic ballot)
As of Wednesday, Sept. 18, his voter status is listed as “Active” for the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election, but he probably won’t make it to his polling place – Lindley Recreation Center at 2907 Springwood Dr. in Greensboro.
In terms of a possible political motive, Routh stated on Twitter that he was once a Trump supporter. In June of 2020, he direct-messaged Trump the following: “While you were my choice in 2106 [sic], I and the world hoped that President Trump would be different and better than the candidate, but we all were greatly disappointed and it seems you are getting worse and devolving…I will be glad when gone.”
In 2020, he tweeted that he was supporting Bernie Sanders and that he was shifting away from Joe Biden, writing on March 4, “I was not supporting Bernie, but now I am; as sleepy Joe stands for nothing.”
More recently, Routh’s posts on various social media sites have supported Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. After the first assassination attempt on Trump, Routh was telling Biden and Harris on social media to visit those who were injured: “Trump will never do anything for them. … Show the world what compassion and humanity is all about.”
Other comments and evidence show Routh was supporting the Biden/Harris ticket in the 2024 election.
So, in short, he first registered as a Democrat, supported Trump in 2016, then went back to supporting Democrats and, in this year’s primary he got a Democratic ballot and has made several public comments relaying his utter dissatisfaction with Trump.
However, a lot of people greatly despise Trump but never try to assassinate him.
So what sent Routh over the edge?
No one can say for sure, however, there’s no question that his overriding passion in life, since February of 2022, has been singular – defending Ukraine.
Over the last two and a half years, Routh has been doing everything he can to help Ukraine in the war against Russia.
In the Tuesday, Sept. 10 presidential debate, Trump would not say that he wanted Ukraine to win the war and, in the past Trump has shown admiration for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, stated that we should dissolve NATO, and said that he would let Putin do what he wants regarding the invasion of Ukraine and other countries.
Routh spoke about the need for compassion many times in public interviews. He went there to fight but was told that since he was 56 with no military experience, he wasn’t “an ideal candidate.” Then he started doing everything he could to recruit others as soldiers.
“So, a question as far as why I’m here,” he told Newsweek in an interview. “To me, you know a lot of the other conflicts are gray – but this conflict is definitely black and white. This is about good versus evil. This is storybook. You know, from any movie we ever watched, this is definitely evil against good.”
He also said that people should be “caring and kind and generous and unselfish and take care of one another …. The most important thing in the world is just to show human beings that we’re kind and we’re caring and that we take care of each other and we all move forward as one collective whole unit.”
“For some reason,” Routh added. “Russia does not understand this concept that we’re all one unit and we have to get along and work together as normal human beings. This is 2022. We have to work together and it seems asinine that we have a leader in a country that does not understand the concept of being unselfish and being generous and kind … It blows my mind.”
This may be one reason Routh turned so hard against Trump – the fear that, if Trump won, the US would end its military support for Ukraine.
“Every project that I promote,” he said in the interview, “is about getting people over here to support the Ukrainians. We’re at a critical juncture in this war where we are sitting on the fence ….If everybody is complacent and doesn’t join this fight then guess who’s going to win. ….This is the most important thing going on in the world today….
Now we’ve let it [Russia] slip back into terrorism so it’s just the world needs to respond.”
He went on to say that some world leaders are not sending military aid and, therefore, “We’re gonna have to elect new leaders the next go around that have a backbone and that, you know, have the fortitude to say, hey, we’re not going to tolerate this type of behavior.”
So, a case could be made that the fear of another Trump presidency would mean the end of support for Ukraine – something Routh seems to worry about more passionately than anything else in the world.
Of course, there’s another, simpler possibility as well.
One former sheriff’s deputy, who encountered Routh constantly as a law enforcement officer since Routh was often on the wrong side of the law, said he believes the motive is simpler than many people realize. He said that some of the media will try and portray Routh as a right-wing of left-wing activist, but stated that, basically, it was just a result of Routh’s huge mental problems that have been on display over decades.
“He’s not a white supremacist; he’s not a right-wing nut; he wasn’t politically motivated,” the former deputy said. “He’s just someone whose life was a failure and he wanted to make a name for himself.”
Just another nut with a gun.
Except you’ve made sure to repeatedly point out that one time in his whole life he voted Republican.
Only in retort to misguided attempts by those trying to frame him as representative of Democrats (looking at you Austin).
What do you expect to happen when Joe, Kamala, et al, repeatedly and angrily call him a dictator who is an existential threat to democracy itself? Calling him a modern-day Hitler, racist, etc. Is it shocking then, that some liberal loon then takes them up on their assertions and decides to be a “hero for the democracy”?
Trump says Kamala and democrats hate America and are destroying America among the other 100 hateful lines of rhetoric he spews without even bothering to try to justify his statements. Heck, you see the same here daily. Look at how threats against liberal candidates, voting officials, school officials, etc… has now become such the norm that no one bothers to talk about anymore. Don’t toss around your criticism until you remove the log from your eye.
If you HAVE to guess what speech this guy twisted in his mind to push him over the edge… In this case it is most likely Trumps own rhetoric around his lack of support for Ukraine as this guy was over the top supporter of Ukraine. Perfectly harmless words from Trump on his position on a perfectly reasonable issue…but a nut can twist that in his mind and snap…which is mostly likely what happened her…
As Scott quotes in his article a…”it was just a result of Routh’s huge mental problems that have been on display over decades.” I think that says it best….
If you want to go hate speech for hate speech from both sides of these two campaigns we could exchange quotes all day. A perfectly good waste of time.
He was a lifelong Democrat except for one vote in 2016, and subsequently moved even further Left to support Bernie Sanders.
Fact.
It’s a shame you can’t accept reality. But then, you too are a Leftist.
More lies from Austin the same.guy who claimed a person’s registration didn’t define the actual political affiliation when it was inconvenient for this version of a situation. Austin has no idea have no idea how this guy voted except for 2016 and 2020
Routh Cleary wasn’t a Biden fan or a Trump fan. He appeared to Twitter post in favor of Nikki and Ramaswamy during the primaries. But who cares. Just another nut with a gun. Not a representation of either party.
But then again it takes a crazy to know a crazy so Austin may have some kinda insight om Routh. Lol
*****
When Routh first registered to vote he declared himself a Democrat. He remained a Democrat for decades until he changed his voter registration to Unaffiliated.
After 2016 Routh, now in his 50’s, expressed regret that he had naively supported Trump as a political newcomer in that year’s election, and then expressed his support for the socialist Bernie Sanders.
All this is just fact.
I do not lie, but “Chris” does so all the time.
Chris -and Leftists generally – simply cannot accept reality, particularly when it conflicts with their puerile Weltanschauung.
Leftism is a form of mental illness.
just another gun with a nut.
Just another DEMOCRAT nut with a gun.
Compared to all the Republicans with guns who have shot up churches, planned to kidnap a Governor, sent Anthrax to Democratic senators, opened fire on a Jewish community center, beat up Mr Pelosi, etc… etc…. etc…
Not to mention 100s or 1000s of threats called into Poll workers, school administrators, State representatives, etc… by conservatives on a daily basis.
Nuts all of em.
How about being able to vote illegally Chris.
Who voted illegally? Routh? Did he register and vote in two locations? Proof of that? You conservatives call people cheaters with no basis of fact. Not a bit surprised.
As usual Rebel is very vague in his accusation, but I assume he is proposing Routh voted illegally in NC because he was in Hawaii…..?) One potential explanation to consider possible:
Later this year my son will setup a place to live in Oklahoma for work but will still maintain and consider Greensboro his home as Oklahoma is a temporary residence for work only. Guess where he will vote?
So many modern conservatives are voting fraud nutters love to make sweeping assumptions and remove people from voting registries…..but end of day are just conspiracy minded people who have no sense of or care about the actual complexity of the voting processes and all the controls in place to keep it fair and safe. But you be you.
Just admit Trump is a loser. Always has been and always will be. Go Harris!!
He voted illegally because he was a convicted felon. He was taken off the rolls and then registered again. Guilford County Board of Elections needs to answer for that. I don’t care if he came home to vote. I care that he is a felon voting.
Thanks for clarifying. Felons are allowed to vote in NC once their sentence is completed, including probation. Did he vote while on probation? Scott’s reporting clearly mentions the periods he was removed from roles while serving out his sentences for federal crimes.
Sounds like you might be mistaken per Scott’s reporting.
Chris according to the article, he was convicted of a felony in 2010 but registered again and voted in 2012 and 2024 I’m pretty it’s illegal for a convicted felon to vote. But you be you moron.
The article also states that many of his penalties were very short or suspended. If suspended, he votes. If only a year of probation, he only misses one vote. You need to have his sentences to know if he cheated. Really doesn’t look like he did but can’t tell without more specifics.
How was he out of prison in 2 years after being found with an unregistered Class III weapon.
That should have been at least 10 years in the Pen.
I just read that the only time he’s ever served was 4 days in jail (including a psych evaluation) after being convicted of carrying an explosive device in April 2002. Everything else was probation and commuted sentences. That’s nuts.
Is he related to the well known AP Routh former Principal of GHS /Grimsley High School?
funny, in 1991, he was awarded a “hero Citizen” plaque from the GPD, for help in stopping a rape.
Big write up in the news and fishwrap.
Picture of him, looking like a young DJT
Sent a copy of it to News Channel 2, they never mentioned it
Also funny that there is vid of him passing out flyers for his Uki Foreign Legion in DC
You can freeze it, and overlay a common pic of another guy that passed out flyers about fighting in another land,
Cuba, to be exact.
he used a surplus military SkS in a sporterized stock, with a cheap scope that was a very poor choice for a “sniper”
The other guy, used a surplus military Carcano, with a improperly installed cheap scope that was a very poor choice for a “sniper”
Strange how times flys, but some things stay the same
Amazing “coincidences”…!
Looks like a Democrat/Republican supporter. Some Democrats/Republicans supported Obama and Trump… Motivation seems to be trumps support of Russia over Ukraine which is insane on trumps part…
Trump does NOT support Russia; he just believes that we don’t have a dog in that fight, that we don’t need another pointless foreign war, and that we should avoid World War III .
Trump is Putins puppet.
Then why was Putin afraid to invade Ukraine while Trump was President, but promptly began preparing to do so once Biden became President?
You’re nuts.
Lol, the idea Putin is afraid of Trump is a joke right? Putin is a master manipulator and Trump is a fool easily manipulated. Look how easy Harris got Trump mentally off balance during their debate. Lol. What a tool.
You know Chris, just because you make assertions out of thin air (or your fertile imagination), that does not mean they’re true.
Putin held off reclaiming Eastern Ukraine when Trump was President because he was afraid of what Trump would do. That fear evaporated when the senile feeble old fart took over.
Just ridiculing these facts as a joke does not invalidate them, no matter how much you think of your own opinions.
You overestimate your abilities. You’re really quite stupid.
Chris you are Ms.’s Palmer and her 5 daughters puppet
non-affiliated vs. unaffiliated ? wut ?
In NC if you register and don’t want to choose a party you’re listed as “unaffiliated”. In other states, it’s called “non-affiliated”. Just depends.
Whether Routh is called “nuts”, “crazy”, “mentally ill”, “bonkers” or any other term to mean not quite right, he did plan to do something wrong and not legal, therefore is responsible for the consequences of breaking laws.
Did sometime say he wasn’t responsible for his actions
Routh donated 19 times to Democrats. Seems to me a pretty clear case of a liberal wingnut.
Still don’t see how that matters” Both sides have nutters that have used violence and attempted assassinations in recent years. I can repost the conservative examples if you like?
Repost an example of a conservative assassinating a President…. please.
Or trying to.
All these TV commercials from the Democrats are total lies, mostly already debunked, but ignorant people don’t necessarily know that. And I suspect that believing all those lies is enough to send some of these already crazies over the edge to commit violence.
Let`s see–calling Trump a threat to Democracy? Calling him Hitler, a fascist? You don`t think that has an affect on the unstable in our area, much less the nation? The media is culpable in this and the other attempt.
Let’s see-saying Harris hates America and is destroying America as well as saying she is a threat to Democracy? Not to mention years of false accusations against poll workers, school administrators, judges, etc…? You don’t think that has an effect on the unstable in our areas, much less the nation. Conservatives are as culpable in this as well as the 100s and 1000s of daily threats against public officials. Just look at what is going in Ohio because of Trumps false claims about immigrants eating pets.
Matthew 7:3-5
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
We can all learn from this verse. Me included.