On September 15, 2024, less than an hour before authorities say Routh was going to open fire on Trump, he texted his three children. His daughter Sarah at 12:55 p.m.: “Love you so much, you are the best daughter.” His son Adam at 12:56 p.m.: “You are so awesome dude, love you so much.” His son Orin also at 12:56 p.m.: “Love you so much, man. You are so brilliant.”

Orin, seemingly alarmed, wrote back: “Love you too, Dad. What’s up? Everything alright?”

Routh was arrested as he fled north on Florida’s Interstate 95 about an hour later.

Eyewitness Tommy McGee also testified for the government. He told the jury he saw a “frantic and disheveled” man leaving the scene and decided to follow him. He took pictures of his black Nissan Xterra and also wrote down his license plate. McGee alerted authorities, who stopped Routh’s car about 45 minutes north on Highway 95. McGee was later brought to the scene to ID him.

On cross-examination, Routh told McGee, “You’re a good man. You’re my hero. You’re an American hero.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the guilty verdict “illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence. This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our President, but an affront to our very nation itself.”

Closing arguments center on intent

During closing arguments Tuesday, both prosecutors and the defendant zeroed in on intent.

“Even though he didn’t kill Trump, he wanted to,” prosecutor Chris Browne told the jury.

He said Routh “obsessively stalked and tracked his intended victim,” and planned his alleged assassination attempt “meticulously and obsessively.”

The defendant, delivering his own closing argument, claimed the assassination was “never going to happen.” Routh said, “If the attempted assassination was not taken, it is not an attempt.”

“There was no intent,” he told the jury.

Routh’s closing was interrupted by Cannon at least 10 times as he veered into territory outside the bounds of evidence and charges. She told him to “move on” numerous times.

On rebuttal, the prosecution reminded the jury that the crime does not have to be “completed” to convict of attempted assassination – “nobody has to be shot,” prosecutor John Shipley said.

Routh’s defense

Routh had considered testifying in his own defense, but did call three witnesses, including two friends and a former Marine sniper, Michael McClay.

McClay told the jury that the SKS rifle authorities say they found at the scene jammed twice, after firing only one shot. The prosecutors disputed the weapon’s capability during cross-examination, noting McClay had tested the weapon seven months after the incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Prosecutors also noted by then, the weapon had been treated with acid to try and restore the serial number.

When Routh’s testimony veered into territory like his alleged drug use with his character witnesses, the judge jumped in, telling him, “I’ve given you substantial latitude. Drugs and cigarettes are not relevant here. I’m going to ask you conclude the direct of this witness.”

After her father rested his case without testifying, Routh’s daughter, Sarah, told CNN: “I feel like he really didn’t have another choice. After seeing how rigged it is, why would he put himself in that position, you know, that would be stupid. It’s obviously all rigged and it’s all bullsh*t.”