Why didn't Ukraine warn the U.S. about Trump's would-be assassin's weapon quest?

By willowt // 2025-04-09

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Donald Trump Jr. publicly condemned Ukraine for failing to alert U.S. authorities about Ryan Wesley Routh’s attempt to procure military weapons from Ukrainian contacts to assassinate his father, calling it a "much bigger deal" than Ukraine’s lack of gratitude for U.S. support.
Routh, a pro-Ukraine activist and convicted felon, tried to buy an RPG and Stinger missile via encrypted messages to kill Donald Trump, citing his desire to prevent Trump’s election. He was arrested near Mar-a-Lago in September 2024 with an AK-47 and surveillance gear.
The incident has strained U.S.-Ukraine relations, raising questions about transparency in international security cooperation, as Ukrainian authorities did not inform the U.S. about Routh’s weapons request.
Following multiple assassination attempts on Trump, Congress has pressed for reforms, citing lapses in coordination — especially after a shooting in Pennsylvania where a gunman evaded detection. Trump has demanded full disclosure from the Secret Service about the attacks.
Routh faces a potential life sentence; his trial may reveal further details about the plot. The attempts underscore heightened security challenges for political leaders and the need for improved threat response protocols.

Donald Trump Jr., son of President Donald Trump, has publicly criticized Ukraine for failing to inform U.S. authorities about Ryan Wesley Routh's attempts to acquire military weapons from Ukrainian contacts to assassinate his father. The criticism comes as Routh, a pro-Ukraine activist, faces federal charges after being arrested near Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in September 2024. In a tweet posted on Tuesday, Trump Jr. expressed his frustration, writing, "If you think it's bad that Ukraine never said thank you for everything the United States has done for them, the fact that they seemingly did not tell us that this sociopath literally tried to buy arms from them to assassinate my father seems like a much bigger deal. Wonder why?!?"

Background on Ryan Routh

Routh, a convicted felon, had attempted to join the Ukrainian military in 2022 but was unsuccessful. Despite this, he remained active in the conflict, reportedly working to recruit ex-Afghan soldiers to fight for Ukraine. According to court documents obtained by Fox News, Routh used an encrypted messaging app in August 2024 to contact an individual he believed to be a Ukrainian weapons supplier. He requested a Russian RPG grenade launcher and a U.S.-made Stinger missile, explicitly stating his intention to prevent Trump from being elected.

The assassination attempt

Routh's messages revealed his explicit motives: "I need the equipment so that Trump don't [sic] get elected," he wrote. He also claimed that obtaining such weapons would be easy due to the chaos of war, adding, "one missing would not be noticed." However, Routh never received the weapons he sought. He was arrested near Mar-a-Lago with a rifle and remains in custody. His trial is scheduled for September, and he faces a potential life sentence if convicted.

Trump Jr.'s criticism and broader implications

Trump Jr.'s criticism of Ukraine highlights the growing tension between the two countries, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the significant support the U.S. has provided. The failure of Ukrainian authorities to alert their American counterparts about Routh's weapons request raises questions about the reliability and transparency of international intelligence sharing, especially in matters of high-profile security threats.

Congressional scrutiny and Secret Service reforms

The assassination attempts on Trump have also led to intense scrutiny of the Secret Service. A congressional task force probing the incidents called for reforms in its final report, released in December 2024. The July incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman opened fire from a rooftop, raised significant concerns about coordination between local and federal law enforcement. Critics pointed to failures in communication that allowed the gunman to position himself undetected.

President Trump's demand for information

In a recent interview with the New York Post, President Trump demanded that the Secret Service provide him with "every bit of information" about the two assassination attempts, stating that the agency has "held it back long enough." The Secret Service Chief of Communications, Anthony Guglielmi, responded, "Any information held by the Secret Service will be provided to the president, without exception." Trump's order came after he expressed a desire to understand the motives and methods of the attackers. "I want to find out about the two assassins," he said. "Why did the one guy have six cellphones and why did the other guy have [foreign] apps? No more holding back because of [Joe] Biden. I'm entitled to know. And they held it back long enough. No excuses."

Conclusion

The assassination attempts on Donald Trump have not only raised serious security concerns but have also highlighted the need for improved international intelligence sharing and coordination. As the trial of Ryan Routh approaches, more details about his alleged plot are expected to emerge, potentially shedding light on the broader implications of these incidents. The scrutiny of the Secret Service and the demands for transparency from the Trump administration underscore the ongoing challenges in ensuring the safety of high-profile political figures in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Sources include: RT.com BigNewsNetwork.com Newsweek.com