Federal authorities have arrested a Kansas man on charges of threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump during his scheduled campaign appearance in the state, the Justice Department announced Monday.
Jaden Read, 24, of Clearwater, Kansas, was taken into custody Saturday following reports that he had posted multiple threatening messages on Facebook directed at the President. The arrest came just two days before Trump appeared at a campaign rally in Park City, a suburb of Wichita, to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall’s reelection bid.
According to the Justice Department, Read allegedly posted his threats in the comments section of news articles detailing the President’s planned visit to Kansas. The messages were explicit in their intent and included disturbing references to firearms and tactical planning.
In one comment, Read allegedly wrote, “Let’s shoot Trump honestly, where’s our shooter? I’m tired of living this money life.” He followed with another message stating, “I just got a 308 and 305 round and I’m killing this pedo.”
In separate comments on related news articles, the suspect allegedly wrote, “Can we shoot him in Kansas please I will myself,” and referenced mapping out rooftop locations near the rally venue. One message appeared to reference recent political violence, further alarming authorities who monitor such communications.
A concerned citizen reported the posts to law enforcement, prompting swift action by multiple agencies. The investigation involved coordination between the U.S. Secret Service, the United States Marshals Service, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Wichita Police Department.
Court documents released by prosecutors do not indicate whether firearms were recovered during Read’s arrest or whether he had undertaken any of the planning activities he described in his social media posts. The Justice Department has not yet released information regarding Read’s criminal history or potential motivations.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser issued a stern warning following the arrest. “Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated,” he stated. “The First Amendment allows for robust disagreement but there are constraints. I caution people to stay within the bounds of constitutionally protected speech.”
President Trump proceeded with his scheduled rally Monday evening without incident and made no reference to the threats during his remarks. The White House declined to comment on the matter, directing inquiries to the Secret Service.
The case underscores the ongoing security challenges facing presidents and other high-profile political figures in an era of heightened partisan tensions and widespread social media use. Federal law enforcement agencies have intensified their monitoring of online threats following several high-profile incidents of political violence in recent years.
Read faces federal charges that carry substantial prison time if convicted. The investigation remains active as authorities determine whether additional charges are warranted.
This marks another instance where law enforcement has successfully identified and interdicted potential threats before they could materialize into actual violence, demonstrating the effectiveness of public vigilance and multi-agency cooperation in protecting the nation’s highest office.
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