As the trial of Ryan Routh unfolds in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, one bizarre detail is gaining traction: Vienna sausages. The canned snack is now playing a critical role in the federal government’s effort to tie Routh to the scene of an attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Routh, a North Carolina native and former Hawaii resident, is defending himself against serious charges including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms violations. If convicted, he faces life in prison. Although four weeks have been set aside for the trial, prosecutors say they could rest their case by Thursday.
According to testimony, Routh never fired a shot during the September 15, 2024, incident at Trump International Golf Club in Florida. But a member of Trump’s Secret Service detail did, after spotting the barrel of a gun allegedly aimed at him. Routh fled and was apprehended later.
The case against Routh is being built on a series of circumstantial clues — chief among them, his apparent fondness for Vienna sausages. Prosecutors claim Routh sent selfies to an acquaintance showing the sausages as part of a camping setup, and the same sausages were discovered at the crime scene. At least four witnesses have referenced the sausages as physical links between the defendant and the location.
FBI agent Aaron Casey presented a 3D reconstruction of the golf course and the surrounding area, giving jurors a visual walkthrough of the crime scene. Prosecutors also allege that Routh used up to 10 phones, including burner phones, three aliases, stolen license plates, and misleading statements to mask his identity and location.
Routh, a construction worker with no legal experience, has clashed with Judge Aileen Cannon over courtroom procedure. His cross-examinations have been brief, and he lost his right to give an opening statement after Cannon ruled his remarks were irrelevant.
While Routh maintains he never intended to kill Trump, the timing of the alleged plot — just 65 days after Trump survived a separate assassination attempt in Pennsylvania — adds weight to the prosecution’s narrative. Routh’s political opinions, particularly on international conflicts, have also come under scrutiny during the trial.
