'I will be glad when you gone... suspect's years of Trump hatred

THE alleged would-be assassin of Donald Trump formed a hatred for the former US president - despite voting him into the White House.

- Christopher Bucktin

Ryan Wesley Routh is the man suspected of being armed with a powerful AK-47-style assault rifle and aiming it through the bushes as the businessman played golf at his florida club on Sunday lunchtime.

He has a lengthy criminal and civil court history, including a conviction for possessing a machine gun.

In a self-published book on geopolitics and the war in Ukraine, the former roofer had branded the Republican billionaire an idiot, a fool and a buffoon.

Referencing his former support for Trump, Routh, 58, wrote that he must take part of the blame for electing him as president.

In July 2020 he tweeted: "I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake. While you were my choice in 2106 [sic], I and the world hoped that President Trump would be different and better.

"But we all were greatly disappointment [sic] and it seems you are getting worse and devolving. I will be glad when you gone." In April this year, he tagged Joe Biden's presidential account and said this year's election campaign should be "called something like KADAF.

Keep America democratic and free. Trumps should be MASA ...make Americans slaves again master. DEMOCRACY is on the ballot, and we cannot lose".

Police said the suspect had been around 300 to 500 yards from Republican White House hopeful Trump when armed Secret Service agents spotted a gun muzzle in the fence and bushes at the Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday.

Last night the US Secret Service said the suspect did not have a line of sight on Mr Trump, and never fired his weapon. A bag and rifle were found at the scene.

After being shot at, the suspect is alleged to have fled, before being caught in his SUV after a witness took a photo and noted the licence plate. The motive was unclear, but it was being treated as an "attempted assassination", the FBI said.

What do we know about Ryan Routh?