Ryan Routh, a 58-year-old federal inmate awaiting trial for attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, has stirred fresh controversy with an unusual proposal. In a letter sent from his Miami prison cell, Routh expressed a willingness to surrender himself to Hamas, the Palestinian militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the UK, the United States, and others.
The New York Post reported that the letter, written in dramatic and impassioned language, was sent with Routh’s name, prison ID, and return address marked. In it, he calls for an end to the ongoing violence in Gaza.
“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.
Routh, who has been in federal custody since his arrest in September 2022, portrays himself as a modern-day amalgamation of historical and fictional figures. In his letter, he identifies with Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Treasury Secretary, and George Bailey, the benevolent banker from Frank Capra’s 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life.
Routh claims to have immersed himself in studying Hamilton’s life and admits to being moved to tears over the Founding Father’s 1804 death in a duel with then-Vice President Aaron Burr. “I feel as George Bailey, wondering if there is support and value in honor, dignity, righteousness, meek, modest, altruism, magnanimity, empathy, kindness, caring [and] sacrifice,” he wrote, drawing parallels between himself and the film character.
Daughter confirms letter’s authenticity
The letter, co-signed by Routh’s daughter, 31-year-old Sara Routh, an electrician residing in Hawaii, underscores his plea for peace. Sara confirmed the letter’s authenticity, lending further weight to its outrageous claims.
Routh also issued a direct appeal to university students staging pro-Hamas demonstrations, encouraging them to rebuild symbolic encampments near Gaza. “It was extremely sad when our US leaders crushed the tent cities created by the university students for Gaza,” he wrote, urging them to renew their efforts for solidarity.
Troubled past and arrest
Routh’s case gained national attention last year after he was apprehended on September 15, 2022, at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Federal agents found him armed with a semiautomatic rifle, an incident that led to his detention on charges of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump.
While his trial remains pending, Routh’s latest letter has drawn significant attention for its mix of theatrical self-identification and his plea to surrender to Hamas as a means of reigniting peace talks. His proposal, however, is likely to raise more questions than answers as legal and national security experts examine its implications.
A polarizing figure
As Routh awaits trial, his dramatic assertions and radical suggestions continue to baffle the public. Whether viewed as a misguided idealist or a dangerous figure, his latest letter adds another layer of intrigue to an already sensational case.
