Exclusive: Inside the mind of Trump’s would-be assassin

"He seemed a goofy older guy until our last meeting,” our Kyiv confidant told about Ryan Wesley Routh’s adventures in Ukraine.

Sep 17, 2024 - 21:00

Exclusive: Inside the mind of Trump’s would-be assassin

As Ryan Wesley Routh faces court for attempting to assassinate Donald Trump on 15 September, his Ukrainian connection has come under scrutiny. Arriving in Kyiv in early 2022, Routh sought to collaborate with the Foreign Legion, promising to recruit “thousands from Afghanistan” – a plan that failed due to Ukraine’s lack of interest and its unrealistic, illegal nature.

Euromaidan Press has delved deeper. We interviewed an American volunteer who spent significant time with Routh in Kyiv and asked to remain anonymous due to the high-profile nature of the situation. Our source, who met Routh through activities to help the Ukrainian army, paints a portrait of Trump’s assassin as a man of many ideas but few results and erratic behavior. This included charging recruits for publicly available information on joining the Foreign Legion – an odd act that led the Legion to publicly distance themselves from Routh.

Our confidant reveals that something was off about Routh’s mental state: the American acted as if he is Ukraine’s savior, but failed to understand his real capabilities.

This lightly edited exclusive interview sheds light on Routh’s motivations, failed projects, and the trajectory that culminated in his shocking assassination attempt.

EP: When did you meet Routh and what was he doing in Ukraine?

I met Routh in 2022, pretty much immediately after the full-scale invasion. He was among the volunteers who came to help Ukraine. He was focused on trying to help the military specifically in whatever capacity.

EP: What did he say about why he came to Ukraine?

It was very generic, idealistic stuff about the Russian invasion being a travesty. Nothing specific.

EP: What was your initial impression of him?

He was just kind of a goofy older guy. You have to have a little bit of craziness to go directly into a war zone.

EP: How well did you know him?

Unfortunately, I saw him quite a bit. We were basically peers, both in Kyiv from America trying to help. We ended up in several meetings together.

EP: You mentioned Routh seemed “crazy.” Can you elaborate?

At the meetings, he couldn’t keep his train of thought together. He’d start talking and completely lose the first portion, then suddenly we’d be on an unrelated third subject. It was like he didn’t realize we were off track.

EP: Did you feel there was something wrong with him mentally?

I’m not a clinician, but I think there was something there. He felt like he was going to be the main character, like he personally was going to save Ukraine. He didn’t seem to understand his realistic capabilities.

EP: What kind of projects was he trying to do?

He was trying to do some kind of arms deals or get defense contracts. His projects didn’t work out. At one point, he went from having crazy hair and wearing an American flag to wearing a suit and tie, trying to clean himself up.

EP: Did he ever mention any specific contacts or organizations he was working with?

No, not really. He was trying to work with the Legion and some research and development stuff, but he had no background in things like drones or aircraft.

EP: What was his involvement with Ukraine’s Foreign Legion?

He claimed to be a sanctioned recruiter for the Foreign Legion. He’d hang out at Maidan [Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) – Kyiv central square] and take money from new recruits, supposedly to help them through the process. But that information was readily available for free. The Legion eventually put out a public statement saying he wasn’t affiliated with them.

EP: Did he mention anything about recruiting Afghans for Ukraine?

He told me about this idea he had to help Afghans left behind by America and also help Ukraine. I wanted no part of it – it seemed incredibly sketchy and potentially illegal.

EP: Did he ever talk about American politics?

I think he was right-wing, probably Republican, being from North Carolina. But he never talked about Trump to me, at least not in any alarming way.

EP: When was the last time you spoke to him?

I saw him in Khreshchatyk [Kyiv main street] in April 2023. He seemed very different – distant and defeated. He was wearing a suit, which was a big change from his usual goofy appearance. I assumed he might have lost money or his projects didn’t work out.

Ryan Wesley Routh in DC and Kyiv. Photo: Screenshot from his now deleted social media account

EP: What was your reaction when you heard about his assassination attempt on Trump?

It took me about five minutes to absorb it. He seemed like the most harmless, goofy guy. I had almost forgotten he existed. It was a complete shock that he’d do something like that.

EP: What was your relationship with him?

I wouldn’t call us friends. He was trying to get some kind of deal, to be near somebody who was doing drones or importing something. He wasted a ton of time. He was always by himself, often at Maidan trying to get people to join the Legion.

EP: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’m glad nobody was hurt in the assassination attempt. I really hope his loose connections to Ukraine don’t negatively impact the country or the people who need help there. Looking back, you could see a negative trajectory as he kept failing to succeed in his projects. It’s crazy to think that someone I met multiple times attempted something like this.

****

Having explored Routh’s journey, we now consider its wider significance for Ukraine. As a Ukrainian media outlet, Euromaidan Press values all support for Ukraine and is grateful to every brave foreigner who contributes to our country, be it through financial aid, words of encouragement, or simply visiting.

Ryan Wesley Routh seemingly intended to support Ukraine in his own way, showing courage by arriving at the start of Russia’s invasion. However, our interviewee’s account of Routh collecting money from potential Foreign Legion recruits in central Kyiv raises questions about his motives. Yet, it’s doubtful he profited much, as foreigners had largely left Ukraine in early 2022, and Maidan wasn’t bustling with Legion candidates.

Our interviewee’s portrayal of Routh as a “goofy old man” seems apt – initially driven by grandiose ideas of saving Ukraine, but later disillusioned upon realizing the insufficiency of one person’s ambitious plans for such a monumental task.

Read more:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!