Urgent: Trump Assassination Trial Begins; South Korea to Evacuate 300 Workers
UPDATE: Jury selection has commenced today in the high-profile trial of Ryan Routh, the man charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump during his presidential campaign last year. Routh, 59, has been in custody since September 2024 and faces multiple charges, including federal weapons violations. Notably, Routh will represent himself in court, raising significant questions about the trial’s proceedings.
A key piece of evidence involves a chilling 12-page letter Routh left with a friend, later turned over to authorities. Prosecutors plan to present only the first page, which begins with the alarming note, “Dear World, This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you.” Routh is fighting for the jury to see the full text, insisting that it conveys a message of “gentleness, peacefulness, and nonviolent caring for humanity.” The presiding judge, Aileen Cannon, has yet to decide on this request.
Meanwhile, Trump has made headlines again, stating he won’t “go to war” with American cities but promises to “clean them up.” His comments follow a controversial post on his Truth Social platform about Chicago, where he hinted at rebranding the Department of Defense as the “Department of WAR.” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded, labeling Trump’s rhetoric as “not normal” and asserting that his state “won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.”
As tensions rise, residents in Chicago are feeling the strain. NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf, currently in the city, reports that while daily life continues, many are anxious. She spoke with protesters expressing concerns over the state of American democracy, especially following Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to major cities like Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. A 27-year-old resident, Andrea Soria, shared that some undocumented family members have refrained from leaving the house due to escalating fears.
In an alarming international development, South Korea plans to send a charter plane to the U.S. to repatriate over 300 workers detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Hyundai plant in Georgia. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed “deep concern” over the arrests during an emergency meeting in Seoul. The ICE operation at the Hyundai electric vehicle battery plant is marked as the largest single-site enforcement action in the history of Homeland Security investigations.
The situation continues to evolve rapidly, with both the trial and the immigration crackdown drawing significant attention. What happens next will be closely monitored by both national and international communities.
Stay tuned for further updates as these stories develop, and share this urgent news with others to keep them informed.
