Ryan Wesley Routh’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump at the Trump International Golf Course has shaken up the political landscape, but not for the reasons you’d expect. Armed with a scoped AK-style rifle, a GoPro, and a truck adorned with a Kamala Harris sticker, Routh spent 12 hours hidden in the bushes, waiting for his opportunity. Despite his lengthy criminal record, he somehow managed to obtain a firearm, and Trump escaped what could have been a deadly encounter by pure luck.
The most glaring issue in all of this is the media’s refusal to acknowledge what’s right in front of them. The motives aren’t hidden, nor are they difficult to understand. Routh’s history and online presence leave no doubt about where he stood politically.
He not only supported Kamala Harris and the Democrats but also publicly called Trump a threat to democracy, even going so far as to urge Iran to assassinate the former president. His self-published book, Ukraine’s Unwinnable War, slams Trump as a “fool” and criticizes his handling of both the January 6 riot and the Iran nuclear deal.
Has a Biden Harris sticker on his truck and donates to Democrats 20 times
The media: “Unclear political ideology” https://t.co/oe7hI5hO7F
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) September 16, 2024
Yet, here we are, watching as media outlets scramble to play dumb about the clear political motivations behind this attempted assassination. It’s the same old tactic of deflection—highlighting the fact that Routh once voted for Trump, as if that somehow washes away his well-documented disdain for him and his calls for violence. The Associated Press has reported his donations to Democratic candidates, his activism through ActBlue, and his outspoken support for progressive causes. But don’t be surprised if these facts get buried under a narrative designed to cloud Routh’s true motives.
He’s donated to numerous Democrats, repeated Biden-Harris slogans on social media, and very publicly loathes both Donald Trump and Israel. Setting aside the rhetoric/guilt-by-association blame game, his ideology is not “unclear.” https://t.co/FYHsVL58tb
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) September 16, 2024
The media, already battered by their disastrous handling of the Russian collusion hoax and other political scandals, is leaning into their old playbook: downplay and distract. But at this point, their credibility is so shattered that even casual observers can see through the spin. It’s painfully obvious what happened here—Routh is a leftist who took his political rhetoric to the extreme. This isn’t just about one man’s violent actions; it’s about a broader narrative that paints Trump and his supporters as dangerous while excusing violence from the left.
Community Note well deserved. pic.twitter.com/lV3GiVHnbt
— Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) September 16, 2024
The uncomfortable truth here is that Democrats and their allies in the media are now facing a reckoning. How many times have they claimed that Trump’s rhetoric is inciting violence, all while conveniently ignoring or excusing their own side’s dangerous words and actions? Now, with a second attempt on Trump’s life in such a short time, it’s impossible to ignore the elephant in the room. Routh wasn’t some lone wolf without a cause. He was motivated by a left-wing ideology, fueled by the very rhetoric that Democrats have been pushing for years—that Trump is an existential threat to the country.