A Kansas man was arrested on Oct. 17 for allegedly threatening to shoot President Donald Trump ahead of his planned visit to Wichita, Kansas, according to federal prosecutors.
President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Truist Arena on the campus of North Kentucky University in Highland Heights on Oct. 17, 2026. Travis Gillmore/The Epoch Times.
Kansas Threat Arrest
Jaden J. Read, 24, faced a federal criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Kansas, the Justice Department confirmed.
Authorities opened the investigation after a Crime Stoppers tip about comments posted in response to a KAKE News article covering Trump’s Wichita visit on Oct. 19.
Read allegedly posted two comments referencing ammunition and a desire to assassinate the president, then added a follow‑up stating he knew the speech location and had mapped out rooftops around the venue.
He was taken into custody in Clearwater, Kansas, on Oct. 17 and remains in federal detention pending a hearing.
“Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser said. “The First Amendment protects robust disagreement, but it does not shield threats.”
It remains unclear whether Read has retained counsel.
Related Threats
In September, federal authorities arrested Benjamin Azariah Southworth after a grand jury indicted him for allegedly threatening to kill Trump and cyberstalking the president’s personal lawyer and the lawyer’s family.
The Los Angeles former podcaster faces one count of threatening the president, one count of cyberstalking, and one count of harassing telephone calls in interstate communications, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.
Prosecutors say he used YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and a personal website to spread hatred toward Trump and his supporters.
Previous Security Breach
In April, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner after a gunman breached a security checkpoint near the ballroom and shot a Secret Service agent, who survived.
Cole Allen of Torrance, California, was arrested at the scene and charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm across state lines with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Jill McLaughlin contributed to this report.
