Venezuelan man arrested near White House with AR-15 and two handguns in Trump threat
A Venezuelan national was detained on Constitution Avenue, Washington D.C., after allegedly threatening to kill President Trump. Three firearms were found in a stolen vehicle.
Venezuelan national held near White House with three firearms after alleged Trump threat
A Venezuelan national was arrested near the White House on Thursday evening after officers discovered multiple firearms inside a stolen vehicle he was parked in on Constitution Avenue, Washington D.C., wionews.com reports. The suspect allegedly told officers he had heard voices instructing him to travel to the capital and kill US President Donald Trump, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
US Secret Service agents approached the man after noticing what they described as suspicious behaviour while his car was stationary on Constitution Avenue. During questioning, the suspect made the alleged threat against Trump, the DHS said. A search of the vehicle uncovered three firearms — an AR-15-style rifle and two handguns — along with dozens of rounds of ammunition. The car was reported stolen.
The arrest is the latest in a series of security incidents close to the White House. In May this year, an armed man was shot by Secret Service agents in downtown Washington D.C., triggering a brief lockdown near the White House. That shooting occurred close to the National Mall shortly after a motorcade carrying Vice President JD Vance passed through the area. USSS Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said he did not believe Vance was the intended target, and that authorities had not yet established whether the incident was connected to broader threats against Trump.
In October 2025, a separate incident saw a man arrested after crashing his vehicle into a security gate near a White House entrance at approximately 10:37 pm. Secret Service agents took the driver into custody immediately following the crash. A subsequent search of that vehicle confirmed it posed no security threat. Videos of Secret Service personnel inspecting the damaged car, taking measurements and documenting the scene circulated widely on social media.
In Thursday's arrest, authorities have not yet disclosed the suspect's identity or confirmed the precise motive behind his alleged plan. The investigation remains ongoing.
Source: The Sun