The Suspect Who Tried to Assassinate Trump: A Reporter's Troubling Encounter

A reporter who interviewed the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Trump recalls her interaction with the alleged gunman, saying he "seemed off" and "disconcerting."

In the aftermath of the thwarted assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, a reporter who previously interviewed the suspect has shared her unsettling encounter with the man. Tanya Lukyanova, a reporter for The Free Press, recalled her interaction with Ryan Wesley Routh during an appearance on "America's Newsroom."

Lukyanova had interviewed Routh in March 2023 for a story on Ukraine turning down foreign fighters. She described him as "off" and "distracting," noting that his behavior seemed out of place even among the colorful personalities she had encountered during the course of her reporting.

The Suspect Who Tried to Assassinate Trump: A Reporter's Troubling Encounter

"He seemed distraught, but then at the same time, he wasn't even the most colorful of the big personalities that I spoke to as part of the story," Lukyanova said.

After Routh's arrest, Lukyanova's editor alerted her to the suspect's identity and her previous contact with him. She immediately recognized him from the video interview she had conducted.

The Suspect Who Tried to Assassinate Trump: A Reporter's Troubling Encounter

"I instantly remembered him. He was a very colorful personality when I interviewed him," Lukyanova said.

During the interview, Routh discussed his work with the International Volunteer Legion, a liaison organization he created to facilitate the involvement of international fighters in the Ukraine war effort. He claimed to have traveled to Ukraine and lived there for five months, working closely with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and other government agencies.

The Suspect Who Tried to Assassinate Trump: A Reporter's Troubling Encounter

"He was doing a lot of work for them," Lukyanova said. "Actually, he traveled to Ukraine and lived there for five months... A source from inside [the] Ukrainian government gave me his contact info as one of the most active… volunteers working in this area of bringing international fighters."

Routh emphasized his support for Ukraine's cause and urged the United States to provide more assistance in the war against Russia. However, Lukyanova was unaware of his political affiliations at the time of the interview.

"I never talked to him again. I didn't even know… until last night about his… political affiliations," she said.

Despite Routh's rap sheet and Lukyanova's unsettling feelings during the interview, she was shocked to learn of the alleged assassination attempt.

"He never struck me as a would-be assassin of a former president," Lukyanova said. "He just seemed like a little bit overzealous and… help supporting the right cause."

Routh's extensive criminal history includes run-ins with police dating back to the 1990s, raising questions about how he was able to obtain a firearm and carry out such a dangerous plan.

The attempted assassination of Trump has sent shockwaves through the nation, raising concerns about political violence and the growing threat of domestic extremism. The incident also underscores the importance of thorough background checks and effective surveillance mechanisms to prevent such dangerous individuals from posing a risk to public safety.