FOR FREE PEOPLE

Watch: The Free Press Live!

FOR FREE PEOPLE

Ryan Routh holds a banner and shouts slogans during a demonstration in support of Mariupol defenders on May 3, 2022, in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo by Artem Gvozdkov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

I Read the Would-be Trump Assassin’s Book So You Don’t Have To

‘Ukraine’s Unwinnable War’ is a window into the strange mind of Ryan Routh.

On Sunday, Hawaii resident and convicted felon Ryan Routh was arrested after allegedly attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at the former president’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Although Routh’s precise motive remains unclear, his self-published book—Ukraine’s Unwinnable War: The Fatal Flaw of Democracy, World Abandonment and the Global Citizen—Taiwan, Afghanistan, North Korea and the End of Humanity (2023)—offers some insights into his worldview. Part political manifesto, part memoir, the book provides a wellspring of information about Routh’s eccentric political opinions and bizarre personality. Here are several key takeaways: 

Routh is obsessed with the war in Ukraine. He sees the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as existential for democracy, writing, “Unfortunately the course of history and the future of democracy and communism all hinges on the personality of the Ukrainian nation.” (It is unclear whether Routh believes Russia is still a communist country or if he’s simply using communist as a shorthand for authoritarianism.) Calling the Russia-Ukraine conflict “everyone’s war,” he bemoans the lack of American troops on the ground in Ukraine—and our unwillingness to start a nuclear war with Russia. He also advocates for a global military coalition against Russia, and asks why small Caribbean countries like Saint Lucia and Grenada are sending teams to the Olympics—but not weapons and soldiers to Ukraine. 

This post is for paying subscribers only

Subscribe

Already have an account? Log in

our Comments

Use common sense here: disagree, debate, but don't be a .

the fp logo
comment bg

Welcome to The FP Community!

Our comments are an editorial product for our readers to have smart, thoughtful conversations and debates — the sort we need more of in America today. The sort of debate we love.   

We have standards in our comments section just as we do in our journalism. If you’re being a jerk, we might delete that one. And if you’re being a jerk for a long time, we might remove you from the comments section. 

Common Sense was our original name, so please use some when posting. Here are some guidelines:

  • We have a simple rule for all Free Press staff: act online the way you act in real life. We think that’s a good rule for everyone.
  • We drop an occasional F-bomb ourselves, but try to keep your profanities in check. We’re proud to have Free Press readers of every age, and we want to model good behavior for them. (Hello to Intern Julia!)
  • Speaking of obscenities, don’t hurl them at each other. Harassment, threats, and derogatory comments that derail productive conversation are a hard no.
  • Criticizing and wrestling with what you read here is great. Our rule of thumb is that smart people debate ideas, dumb people debate identity. So keep it classy. 
  • Don’t spam, solicit, or advertise here. Submit your recommendations to tips@thefp.com if you really think our audience needs to hear about it.
Close Guidelines

Latest