Armed Man Arrested Near White House After Alleged Trump Threat

The Secret Service arrested a man with three firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition near the White House on Thursday evening, according to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS says the man told officers he planned to kill President Donald Trump. Those statements are allegations relayed by the agency and have not been tested in court.

Table of Contents

Key Highlights

Officers found three firearms, including a rifle, and dozens of rounds of ammunition in a car reported stolen, according to DHS.
DHS alleges the man said “voices in his head” told him to come to Washington and kill Trump.
DHS announced the charges Friday. The reports reviewed did not describe a court appearance.
None of the reports said Trump was near the scene.

What Happened

Secret Service officers saw the man acting suspiciously in a parked vehicle and approached him, according to DHS, as reported by CBS News. A law enforcement source told CBS the arrest took place in the 1600 block of Constitution Avenue NW, near the Ellipse, within blocks of the White House.

DHS said the man allegedly admitted there were weapons in the vehicle. Officers later learned the car had been reported stolen, according to CBS and Yahoo News.

The Weapons

DHS said officers found three firearms, including a rifle, and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Fox News reported that a search found an AR-15-style rifle and two handguns. Fox photo captions listed a Mac 10 and a Glock 43X.

The Alleged Threat

According to DHS, the man told officers he “had heard voices in his head telling him to come to Washington, D.C., and assassinate Mr. Trump,” CBS reported. DHS also said he told officers he was planning an attempt on Trump’s life.

These claims come from DHS, not from court records or independent reporting. CBS said it was not clear whether the man has an attorney, and none of the outlets reviewed included a statement from him.

Who Is the Suspect

DHS identified him as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, a Venezuelan national. DHS said he entered the United States through Texas in March 2024, was arrested by Border Patrol and was later released, according to CBS. DHS says he is in the country illegally.

Fox News reported that ICE has lodged a detainer and that the U.S. Marshals Service has custody. His age was not reported. An immigration violation is a separate matter from the weapons charges and the alleged threat.

The Charges

CBS reported that DHS listed three counts each of unlawful transportation of a firearm, carrying unregistered firearms and carrying unregistered ammunition. He also faces single counts of possessing certain dangerous weapons, carrying a pistol without a license, unauthorized use of a vehicle, theft and receiving stolen property.

Fox News noted that its list of charges did not include one tied directly to the alleged threat against Trump. Charges are accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless convicted.

What Officials Said

Secret Service Director Sean Curran called the arrest “the latest example of Secret Service personnel relying on extensive training and experience,” CBS reported. Fox News quoted Curran as saying, “we are alarmed by the increase in threat cases.”

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the man “was arrested near the White House before he could harm anyone,” according to CBS.

Security Context

CBS noted that Trump has faced previous attempts on his life, including the July 2024 shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. For wider political context, see our midterm elections coverage.

What to Watch Next

Key questions are where and how the man will be prosecuted, whether he enters a plea and whether investigators identify a motive beyond what DHS described. None of the reports reviewed described any additional suspects.

Watch: News Coverage of the Arrest

Video: “Armed man arrested near White House; DC library fatal stabbing” (YouTube).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biSGi3eldco

Armed Man Arrested Near White House After Alleged Threat Against Trump, DHS Says