Ryan Routh was turned down to fight as a volunteer in Ukraine

Ryan Routh, the shooter who attempted to assassinate Republican candidate Donald Trump, tried to volunteer to fight in Ukraine. However, according to some fighters, he was turned down because he was labeled a "crazy person."

"A crazy idiot, but no one’s really surprised. There are people like that that show up and are desperate to help and be important. And he was just one of those – just on the crazier end of things," said one fighter who spoke to the The New York Post.

In that regard, it was also learned that the U.S. fighters and volunteers who spoke to The New York Post requested anonymity for fear that Russia would disclose their personal information.

The news outlet highlighted that other sources confirmed that "when he was rejected by the Ukrainian Foreign Legion — which has recruited thousands of foreigners to fight for Ukraine, he took it upon himself to become a one-man recruitment office. But even those efforts drew scorn,"

Another fighter indicated that he met Routh and had the impression that he "was already extremely shady. I ran into him once, he struck me as unbalanced and dangerous," said the source, who remained anonymous.

Another volunteer stressed that there are many people who seek to be part of the fighters not because they believe in defending Ukraine but to make themselves known.

"A lot of the people that are here are not really here for Ukraine, they’re not really here for the war. They’re here to kind of be famous or live out a fantasy or feel like they’re a part of something. ... Ukraine for them is kind of like their chance to finally make it," the volunteer indicated.

Other organizations in Ukraine that Routh claimed to be linked to denied any ties to him. This is the case with the International Volunteer Center. The group said it had no dealings or connections with Routh.

"We have been officially registered as an organization in Ukraine since October 2023. Prior to the recent developments, none of us had any knowledge of Mr. Routh or any other entity named the International Volunteer Center, aside from our own registered organization," the center said in statements reported by The New York Post.

Ukraine's Azov Brigade also denied any connection to Routh in a post on X.

"We would like to officially state that Ryan Wesley Routh has no connection to Azov and has never had any connection to Azov. The peaceful demonstration he attended was open and anyone could join it. He was caught on the video filmed by the protesters by accident," it said.

The details come just a day after Florida law enforcement authorities released images showing the moment of Ryan Routh's arrest.

Routh was intercepted by Secret Service agents in the vicinity of Donald Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach, Fla., as he stood near a metal gate armed with an AK-47-style rifle.

Routh faces federal charges for firearms possession.