NY Times Reporter Interviewed Would-Be Trump Assassin In 2023

AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

New York Times journalist Thomas Gibbons-Neff revealed that in 2023, he interviewed Ryan Wesley Routh, the chief suspect in Sunday’s assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The 58-year-old former construction worker from North Carolina is now under investigation by the FBI after a Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of his rifle near the next hole Trump would play on the golf course and was able to interrupt the alleged planned assassination.

In an article published Sunday, Gibbons-Neff revealed that he had previously interviewed Routh in March 2023, for a story focused on foreign fighters volunteering in Ukraine.

Routh, who was unqualified to fight and had no military experience, had spoken fervently about his ambitions to support Ukraine against Russia by recruiting Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban.

“In my opinion, everyone should be there supporting the Ukrainians,” Routh told Gibbons-Neff at the time.

Despite his grand plans, Routh admitted he was “just a civilian” with no practical means to carry out his ideas. He had concocted schemes involving bribing officials and forging passports to get Afghan veterans to the front lines, although he had no concrete methods for achieving his goals.

Gibbons-Neff recalled that by the end of their conversation, it was clear Routh was “in way over his head.” Yet, Routh remained resolute in his mission to contribute to the Ukrainian war effort, even if his tactics were unrealistic.

Now, Routh faces questions over his involvement in an alleged plot to assassinate Trump. Authorities are continuing their investigation.