The US Secret Service arrested a man near the White House on Thursday night (US time) after he allegedly told officers he had heard voices telling him to come to Washington and kill President Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.
Officers approached the man because he was "acting suspicious" in a car parked on Constitution Avenue, near the Ellipse, according to DHS and CBS News. They found the car had been reported stolen. A search turned up three firearms, including a rifle, and dozens of rounds of ammunition, DHS said.
The charges
DHS identified the man as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, a Venezuelan national. He has been charged with three counts each of unlawful transportation of a firearm, carrying unregistered firearms and carrying unregistered ammunition, and one count each of possessing certain dangerous weapons, carrying a pistol without a licence, unauthorised use of a motor vehicle, theft and receiving stolen property, CBS News reported. He is in US Marshals Service custody. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer, and the allegations have not been tested in court.
DHS said he entered the US through Texas in March 2024, was arrested by the Border Patrol and later released. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin called him an "illegal alien" and credited the officers with stopping him "before he could harm anyone". The White House referred questions to DHS and the Secret Service.
"This is the latest example of Secret Service personnel relying on extensive training and experience to de-escalate a volatile situation," Secret Service Director Sean Curran said.
Background
It is the latest in a series of arrests of people accused of threatening Mr Trump or his family since he returned to office, The Hindu reported. Mr Trump survived a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, and in April a gunman breached security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner while he was attending, CBS News reported.