A 24-year-old Kansas man has been charged with threatening US President Donald Trump after allegedly posting a series of violent messages on Facebook ahead of the president’s planned visit to Wichita.
Jaden J. Read, of Clearwater, Kansas, was arrested on Saturday and transferred to federal custody following an investigation launched after authorities received a Crime Stoppers tip, according to the US Department of Justice.
Federal investigators said the case began on October 15, when a tip directed law enforcement to Facebook comments Read allegedly posted beneath a news article about Trump’s scheduled October 19 visit to Wichita.
Prosecutors allege that Read called for the president to be shot, claimed to have obtained ammunition and expressed an intention to kill him. The allegations prompted an investigation involving federal and state law enforcement agencies before the planned presidential visit.
Read has been charged with making threats against the president. The allegations have not been established in court, and the case remains subject to the legal process.
Facebook Comments Allegedly Included Threats Against Trump
According to the Justice Department, investigators first examined comments Read allegedly posted in response to a KAKE News article about Trump’s upcoming appearance in Wichita.
One of the comments reportedly called for someone to shoot the president.
“Let’s shoot Trump honestly, where’s our shooter? I’m tired of living this money life,” Read allegedly wrote, according to the federal complaint.
In another comment beneath the same article, Read allegedly claimed to have acquired a firearm and ammunition while expressing an intention to kill Trump.
“I just got a 308 and 305 round and I’m killing this pedo,” the alleged post stated.
Authorities subsequently examined additional comments that Read reportedly made in response to coverage of the president’s planned visit.
The Justice Department said the posts raised concerns because they allegedly included references to Trump’s location and the possibility of carrying out an attack during his appearance in Kansas.
The investigation was initiated after the Crime Stoppers tip brought the comments to the attention of authorities on October 15.
Suspect Allegedly Claimed to Have Mapped Nearby Rooftops
Investigators reportedly found additional Facebook comments posted beneath an article published by KWCH 12 News about Trump’s planned visit to the Wichita area.
In one comment, Read allegedly wrote, “Can we shoot him in Kansas please I will myself.”
About a minute later, he reportedly posted another message claiming to know where Trump would deliver his speech and saying he had mapped nearby rooftops.
“IK where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since yall couldn’t help him,” the alleged post read.
The reference to being “kirked” appeared to allude to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
Investigators reportedly treated the comments as part of the evidence examined during the inquiry into the alleged threats.
The messages were posted ahead of Trump’s planned October 19 appearance in Wichita, making the timing a central element of the investigation described by federal authorities.
Trump Planned Wichita Visit Ahead of Midterm Elections
Trump’s scheduled visit to Wichita was expected to include support for Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who was campaigning for re-election against Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton.
The appearance came during a politically significant period ahead of the US midterm elections, when control of Congress was a key concern for both major political parties.
Trump’s public appearances frequently attract heightened security arrangements, particularly when they involve large gatherings and political campaigning.
Read was arrested in Clearwater on Saturday, two days before the scheduled visit, according to the Justice Department’s account of the case.
The available information does not establish that Read carried out an attack or that the alleged threats resulted in any physical harm. The criminal complaint concerns the alleged threatening statements and their investigation by law enforcement.
Federal Authorities Arrest Read in Clearwater
Following the investigation, authorities arrested Read in Clearwater, Kansas, and transferred him to federal custody.
The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas filed a criminal complaint charging him with making threats against the president. The Justice Department announced the case on Monday.
Authorities said Read was expected to remain in custody pending a detention hearing.
The investigation involved several agencies, including the US Secret Service, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Wichita Police Department.
The Secret Service is responsible for protecting the president and investigating threats against individuals under its protection. In this case, the federal investigation followed reports of alleged threats posted publicly on social media.
The criminal complaint outlines allegations against Read, but the filing of a charge does not constitute a finding of guilt. Prosecutors must establish the relevant elements of the alleged offence through the legal process.
US Attorney Warns Against Political Violence
US Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser condemned threats of political violence while acknowledging the constitutional protections afforded to political expression.
“Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated,” Kriegshauser said in the Justice Department’s statement.
“The First Amendment allows for robust disagreement but there are constraints,” he added, warning that people must remain within the boundaries of constitutionally protected speech.
The First Amendment protects a broad range of political expression in the United States, including criticism of elected officials. However, certain forms of true threats may fall outside those protections, depending on the circumstances and applicable law.
The case against Read will proceed through the federal judicial system, where the allegations and supporting evidence can be examined under the law.