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Immigration

Armed man arrested near White House allegedly told officers he planned to kill Trump

The Department of Homeland Security says the Venezuelan suspect, in the country illegally, had three firearms in a stolen vehicle and was charged.

18 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from liberal outlets
Liberal5 outletsDHS's account of an armed man's alleged plotCenter3 outletsSecret Service arrest and DHS account of threatConservative10 outletsSuspect's illegal status and release under Biden
Published 4 min read
Overview

A man was arrested Thursday night in a parked vehicle on Constitution Avenue, within blocks of the White House in Washington. Secret Service officers had seen him "acting suspicious," according to the Department of . DHS identifies him as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos of Venezuela.

It says he allegedly told officers that voices in his head told him to come to Washington and kill President Trump. Officers learned the vehicle had been reported stolen. DHS says they found three firearms, including a rifle, and dozens of rounds of ammunition.

DHS also says he is in the country illegally, having entered through Texas in March 2024. Among his charges, DHS lists unlawful transportation of a firearm, theft, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and carrying a pistol without a license. He is in U.S. Marshals Service custody.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he was arrested "before he could harm anyone." Secret Service Director Sean Curran called the case the "latest example" of officers relying on training to deescalate a volatile situation. The White House did not comment and referred questions to DHS and the Secret Service.

Key figures
  • three firearms, including a rifle weapons found in the vehicle, per DHS — CBS News
  • dozens of rounds of ammunition found in the vehicle, per DHS — CBS News
  • March 2024 when DHS says he entered the U.S. through Texas — CBS News
  • three counts each charges of unlawful transportation of a firearm, unregistered firearms and unregistered ammunition, per DHS — CBS News

Three sides of the story

Liberal5 outlets

DHS's account of an armed man's alleged plot

CBS News opens with DHS's account of an undocumented immigrant "armed with several weapons" who was in custody within blocks of the White House on Thursday night. DHS says he told Secret Service officers he was planning an attempt on Trump's life. CBS lists the charges from DHS's Friday release.

It quotes Secret Service Director Sean Curran on a "volatile situation" that officers deescalated, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin thanking the officers. It adds that DHS says the suspect entered through Texas in March 2024 and was later released, and that it was unclear whether he has a lawyer. It recalls the July 2024 Butler rally shooting and an April incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

The Guardian ran the same report as The Seattle Times, headlined "Man in custody after being found in vehicle near White House with guns." The report says people who threatened Trump or his family have been arrested repeatedly since he returned to office, and that the White House referred questions to DHS and the Secret Service. NBC News carries a video report headlined "Armed man arrested near White House for allegedly threatening Trump."

Center3 outlets

Secret Service arrest and DHS account of threat

The Seattle Times runs a Washington-datelined report on the arrest of a man who, it says, claimed voices in his head told him to kill Trump. The Guardian ran the same text. The report rests on a Homeland Security statement and on U.S. officials.

According to the statement, Secret Service officers approached a man "acting suspicious" in a parked car. The man, named as Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, then described the voices urging him to travel to the capital. Officers soon found that the car had been reported stolen, and inside were three firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition.

DHS describes him as a Venezuelan living in the U.S. unlawfully after crossing through Texas in March 2024, and says he has been charged and remains in U.S. Marshals Service custody. The report calls the arrest the latest in a series involving people who threatened Trump or his relatives since his return to office. It says the White House did not comment and pointed to DHS and the Secret Service.

It closes with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin saying the man was arrested "before he could harm anyone."

Conservative10 outlets

Suspect's illegal status and release under Biden

The Washington Examiner headlines "Armed migrant arrested next to White House after alleged threat to assassinate Trump" and names the weapons: an AR-15-style weapon, a Mac-10 and a Glock 43X. It quotes Curran on a "heightened threat environment" and the Secret Service's plan to expand proactive investigation of people who make threats, and reports an detainer. The Blaze and the New York Post, which ran a Fox News report by Bonny Chu, rely on DHS statements to Fox News and the Daily Mail.

Both say he entered through Texas in March 2024 and was released under the Biden administration. The Blaze quotes DHS citing the "catch and release policy of the Biden administration" and notes the policy was rescinded under Trump. RedState, calling the case "something of a cliche," reposts Fox's Bill Melugin and writes of "another mark against the non-enforcement of our immigration laws."

The Examiner, Blaze and RedState quote Mullin saying the man "had no business being in our country."

What a side did not mention
All sources: 19 articles from 18 outlets

Liberal (5)

Center (3)

Conservative (11)

Related
DHS (Department of Homeland Security)

The federal ministry in charge of borders and immigration enforcement. ICE, CBP and USCIS belong to it, as do the Coast Guard, the Secret Service and the disaster agency FEMA.

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ICE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement: the federal agency that arrests, detains and deports people who are in the US without legal status.

All terms →