What we know about Trump assassination suspect Routh’s party affiliation

Ryan Wesley Routh lost his US voter registration in 2002 after being convicted of a felony.

After law enforcement said it was investigating an apparent attempted assassination of former United States President Donald Trump, social media users quickly declared they knew the suspect’s registered voter party affiliation.

“Ryan Wesley Routh, the second Trump shooter. He looks like a MAGA republican but is a registered democrat,” stated a Facebook post.

The phrase “second Trump shooter” alludes to a different man who shot Trump in July.

It is possible that more details will emerge about Routh’s political ideology as the court case against him proceeds, but two days after the incident in West Palm Beach, Florida, a review of public records, Routh’s social posts and news accounts found that although Routh described himself as a Trump supporter-turned-Trump critic, his voter registration history showed no clear sign of consistent support of either party.

He also frequently gave voice to more left-leaning ideology. In 2023, he addressed Iran in his self-published book, writing: “You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me.”