- September 11, 2025
- 3:20 pm
- Brief news
On Thursday, September 11, 2025, opening statements will begin in federal court in the case of Ryan Raut, who is accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump at his golf course last year. Raut has decided to forgo legal counsel and will represent himself, reports ABC News.
Case Details
In the criminal proceedings against Ryan Raut, prosecutors claim that he devised a meticulous plan to carry out the attack. He acquired military-grade weapons, studied Trump’s movements, and used numerous unauthorized phones with the intent to “kill Trump due to political grievances.”
According to the indictment, hiding in the bushes at Trump’s golf course in Palm Beach and armed with a rifle, Raut approached the then-presidential candidate until he was spotted by a Secret Service agent. Raut managed to escape but was apprehended on a nearby highway.
Nearly a year after the failed assassination attempt, Raut is charged with five criminal offenses, which could result in a life sentence. Although he has no legal education, Raut decided to dismiss his lawyers and represent his interests independently at the beginning of 2023.
In a letter to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, he noted: “I will represent myself. The idea of a stranger defending me seems strange.”
Challenges in the Process
Raut’s self-representation complicated the jury selection process, which was conducted over three days from Monday to Wednesday. Judge Cannon rejected a number of proposed questions, considering them too “political.”
Raut was interested in the jurors’ views on events in Palestine and Ukraine, as well as Trump’s joint plans to acquire Greenland. According to court documents, he intends to call his son and friends to testify about his character.
Further Plans
Judge Cannon prohibited him from claiming that his actions were justified and lacked intent to commit murder, citing the First Amendment. This created additional obstacles in the defense Raut intended to build.
According to information, a new hearing in Raut’s case is scheduled for September 2025, initially planned for December 2024. The judge denied the defense’s request for a one-year postponement, considering it excessive and inappropriate.