Ryan Routh, who is currently in federal custody awaiting trial for an alleged assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, has penned a letter offering himself as a hostage to Hamas.
The letter, obtained by the New York Post, outlines Routh’s willingness to be taken captive by the militant group in Gaza as part of an effort to broker peace and end the ongoing conflict with Israel.
“Will you go with me to Gaza and surrender to Hamas in exchange for a hostage life, please? Will you help me stop the killing of innocent children and families by offering yourself to restart the peace process and end this war?” Routh wrote.
In his letter, Routh proposed exchanging his freedom to “restart the peace conversation,” claiming his actions could halt Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Despite his incarceration, Routh oddly stated he had “unlimited time and funds” to travel to destinations such as Washington, Qatar, or Gaza to personally facilitate the hostage exchange.
Routh expressed sympathy for university demonstrations in support of Hamas following the October 7 attack on Israel, criticizing U.S. leadership for dismantling “tent cities created by the University students for Gaza.”
In the letter, Routh drew parallels between himself and historical figures like Alexander Hamilton, expressing emotional reflections on Hamilton’s fatal duel with Aaron Burr.
He also likened himself to George Bailey from the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life, stating his vision for a world where “we always put in more than we take out” and focus on values like empathy and kindness over materialism.
The authenticity of Routh’s letter was confirmed by his daughter, who also signed it. Speaking to the New York Post, she expressed frustration over the lack of response from international authorities, saying, “I have tried to push it but nobody has responded… I have tried to reach out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar and Egypt and I have not gotten much.”
Routh was arrested last September after allegedly attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club.
Armed with a rifle, he reportedly came within a few hundred yards of Trump on the golf course before being intercepted by the Secret Service, who neutralized the threat and apprehended him.
The letter has sparked widespread debate and raised questions about Routh’s motivations and state of mind as his trial approaches.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom was given to chef José Andrés, who was hanging out with the dude who tried to Assassinate Donald Trump… Ryan Routh
Because that’s totally normal… pic.twitter.com/QIWlIfQE1w
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) January 4, 2025
