Florida, United States — A federal court in the United States has sentenced a man who attempted to assassinate United States President Donald Trump to life in prison.
The convicted, Ryan Routh, appeared before a US District Court in Florida, where the sentence was handed down on Wednesday, US time.
According to international reports, before his sentencing, the 59-year old avoided discussing the attempted attack and instead made lengthy remarks about unrelated global issues, even suggesting he be exchanged for political prisoners overseas.
The judge eventually cut him off, saying his statements were irrelevant to the case.
He was found guilty last year of attempting to kill Trump after authorities said he hid in bushes near a Florida golf course with a semi-automatic rifle.
The incident occurred just weeks before the 2024 US election that returned Trump to the White House.
The federal court said his attempt was a calculated and premeditated plan to take a life.
His lawyer said they plan to appeal both the conviction and the life sentence.
Prior to this event, Routh was also convicted of three counts of illegal firearm possession in several cases.