Donald Trump, the former US President and current presidential candidate, found himself at the center of a potential assassination attempt on Sunday while playing golf in Florida. The alleged attacker, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, was a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s fight against Russia and had even attempted to recruit soldiers for the Ukrainian cause.
The incident occurred just days after Trump, during a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, declined to offer his support for a Ukrainian victory. This refusal to back Ukraine sparked significant controversy and raised eyebrows about his stance on the ongoing conflict.
Routh’s history reveals a strong commitment to the Ukrainian war effort. In 2022, he was featured in various media reports as he actively tried to mobilize support for Ukraine. He initially traveled to Kyiv with the intention of joining the fight on the frontlines but was ultimately prevented due to his age and lack of combat experience.
Undeterred, Routh shifted his focus to promoting the Ukrainian cause, believing the conflict to be a clear-cut battle between good and evil. He told Newsweek Romania in June 2022, “A lot of the other conflicts are grey but this conflict is definitely black and white. This is about good versus evil. If the governments will not send their official military, then we, civilians, have to pick up the torch and make this thing happen and we have gotten some wonderful people here but it is a small fraction of the number that should be here.”
In March 2023, Routh, speaking to Semafor news, revealed his efforts to recruit US-trained Afghan fighters to join the Ukrainian resistance against Russia. However, his plans were thwarted when the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense refused to grant visas to these fighters.
The attempted assassination of Trump, if confirmed, would have significant implications for the ongoing presidential election campaign. It would also raise concerns about the safety of politicians and public figures in the face of escalating political tensions and conflict.
