Jury selection kicks off Monday in Fort Pierce, Florida, for what is shaping up to be one of the most absurdly under-reported trials in recent history.
You’d think a man accused of attempting to assassinate a former U.S. president—who just so happens to be the Republican front-runner for 2024—would be front-page news for weeks. But nope. Crickets. Maybe if it were a Democrat who was targeted, the media would already be on day 278 of breathless coverage, complete with dramatic reenactments and prime-time specials. But since it’s Donald Trump, well… the usual suspects are strangely quiet.
Ryan Routh, who prosecutors say camped out with a rifle for twelve hours near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club, is facing federal charges that could land him in prison for life. We’re talking attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assault on a federal officer, and a buffet of gun violations that sound like they were ripped straight out of a bad action movie.
He’s pleaded not guilty, of course, and in a twist that should make any courtroom junkie’s head spin, he’s decided to represent himself. Yes, really. Because if there’s one thing a guy facing life in prison should absolutely do, it’s fire his lawyers and play legal roulette.
Pretrial court filing by Ryan Routh, ahead of today’s jury selection
Routh – will defend himself at trial in the alleged Sept 2024 assassination attempt against Trump in Florida
His filing includes references to Trump as a “baboon”, “idiot”, “dumb***”
Judge is Aileen Cannon https://t.co/5CAVu69XKX pic.twitter.com/aLFlwmpHHx
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) September 8, 2025
Even better? The judge presiding over this circus is none other than Aileen Cannon—yes, that Judge Cannon, the Trump-appointed jurist who’s already taken heat for her role in the Trump documents case. Naturally, Routh’s public defenders tried to get her booted from the bench, citing “bias” and “conflict of interest,” but she’s staying put. You’ll forgive the conservative side of America for cracking a grin at that decision.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the courtroom: Trump isn’t even a party in this trial, yet his name is plastered all over it. It’s not just that Routh was allegedly gunning for him—it’s that even in a case where he’s the target of an assassination plot, you can feel the legal system holding him at arm’s length. Almost like they’d rather not admit what the real motive was here.
And can we take a moment to reflect on the fact that Routh reportedly tried to buy anti-aircraft weapons? Anti. Aircraft. Weapons. That’s not a garden-variety assassination attempt—that’s something out of a Bond villain’s playbook. Oh, and he also tried to hire someone to track Trump’s flight paths. But sure, let’s keep pretending this trial isn’t a huge deal.
Jury selection is expected to wrap by Wednesday, with opening arguments starting on September 11—because why not pick the most symbolic day of the year to begin a trial involving political violence? The symbolism writes itself. And while we wait for the mainstream press to finally acknowledge the gravity of what’s happening, the rest of us are left wondering how this would be playing out if the names were reversed.
Just imagine if a MAGA-hat-wearing guy camped out with a rifle near Biden’s beach house. Imagine if he had written a “Dear World” letter expressing disappointment that he didn’t pull the trigger. The calls for domestic terrorism legislation, gun control crackdowns, and new FBI task forces would be deafening. MSNBC would probably offer wall-to-wall coverage with bonus panels featuring retired CIA officials and TikTok psychologists diagnosing the national psyche. Instead? Well, don’t hold your breath for a Netflix docuseries about this one.
Let’s not forget the jury selection process, which could get wild. Routh gets to question the jurors himself—because sure, why not give a man accused of trying to kill a president the floor to directly address the people deciding his fate. What could possibly go wrong?
This trial isn’t just about one deranged man with a gun. It’s about a culture that shrugs when violence is aimed at the wrong political team. It’s about a justice system that seems more interested in optics than equal protection under the law. And it’s about time someone said it out loud: if Trump had died that day, there are people in this country who would have cheered. That should chill every American to the bone.
It’s going to be a unique trial, as defendant, Ryan Routh will represent himself in federal court. Experts weigh in what to expect as jury selection starts tomorrow! @MyNews13 @BN9
Full Story: https://t.co/MDJ6VDwCWl pic.twitter.com/esEiP2L8Cq
— Sarah Winkelmann (@SarahWinkelmann) September 7, 2025
But hey, we’ve got jury selection to get through first. Let’s see if the system can still do its job—fairly, openly, and without turning this into yet another exercise in political theater.
