A 24-year-old Kansas man has been charged with making threats against President Donald Trump, according to federal officials. The arrest occurred on Saturday, October 17, after a tip alerted authorities to a series of concerning Facebook posts made by Jaden J. Read, of Clearwater, in anticipation of Trump's visit to Wichita on Monday, October 19.
Federal prosecutors stated the investigation commenced on October 15 when an individual contacted Crime Stoppers. The tip referenced comments Read allegedly left under a KAKE News report announcing the president's upcoming appearance. In one post, Read reportedly wrote, "Let's shoot Trump honestly, where's our shooter? I'm tired of living this money life."
Further comments allegedly followed, with Read claiming he had obtained ammunition and threatening the president's life. "I just got a 308 and 305 round and I'm killing this pedo," Read is quoted as writing. Investigators also uncovered additional comments Read made under a separate report by KWCH 12 News about Trump's visit, in which he stated he would shoot the president himself and claimed to know the location of the speech and have identified nearby rooftops.
"Can we shoot him in Kansas please I will myself," Read allegedly wrote, followed by, "IK where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since yall couldn't help him." These statements prompted a federal investigation, leading to Read's arrest.
Read is currently in federal custody awaiting a detention hearing. He faces a federal charge of threatening the president, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. U.S. Attorney for Kansas, Ryan A. Kriegshauser, emphasized that political disagreements do not grant permission to make threats of violence, noting that while Americans are entitled to express strong political opinions, this freedom has legal limitations.
The investigation involved the Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Wichita Police Department. Read's mention of rooftops and specific locations for a potential attack bears resemblance to the July 13, 2024, incident where Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired at Trump from a building near a rally. During that event, the president sustained a wound to his ear, one rally attendee was killed, and two others were injured. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service agent following the shooting.
The arrest comes as Trump continues his campaign travel. He was scheduled to speak at the Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, Kansas, at 6 p.m. on Monday. Ahead of his trip, Trump publicly criticized Fox News, alleging the network was spending more time defending Democrats than broadcasting Republican views. He made these remarks on Truth Social, urging followers to watch his Kansas rally on RSBN (Right Side Broadcast Network).