President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, May 23, 2025 (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta).
This week marks the beginning of a four-day trial for an Arizona resident accused of making violent threats against President Donald Trump. Prosecutors allege that he threatened to assassinate Trump with a long-range sniper shot using his military-issued weapon.
According to a federal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Rene Ortiz allegedly declared his intent to aim for the head, not the ear, of the president.
Ortiz, hailing from Casa Grande, faces trial after being apprehended in early 2025. The charges stem from purported assassination threats made during Trump’s time as president-elect, between November and December 2024.
The threats were reportedly issued through documents left at federal courthouses in Phoenix and Tucson. Initially, Ortiz demanded the courts “execute the newly elected POTUS by firing an M-16A2 Service Rifle with a magazine of 6 rounds.” He then allegedly threatened to carry out the act himself if his demands were ignored, according to the complaint.
Ortiz allegedly specified in the documents that the “execution shall commence 3 days upon notice to the Defendants to this action,” emphasizing that the “6 rounds to be shot will be from 300 or 500 yards away from the target,” as cited in the complaint.
“ANY REFUSAL OF ANY RIGHT, MR. ORTIZ WILL BE ENTITLED TO SHOT THE INCOMING FRAUDULENT ELECTED POTUS FROM 300 OR 666 YARDS AWAY WITH 666 ROUNDS FOR AN M-16A2 SERVICE RIFLE AT THE INAGURATION [sic],” Ortiz allegedly warned, noting how he had an “Expert Badge” in marksmanship, feds report.
Federal agents questioned Ortiz about the alleged threats on Dec. 5, 2024, at the Secret Service Phoenix field office. During the interview, Ortiz allegedly admitted to making them.
“When asked if Ortiz plans to shoot [Trump], Ortiz responded, ‘If my demands are not met,’” according to the complaint. “Ortiz explained his grievance is with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Ortiz explained while employed at the VA they promised to pay for his schooling if he quit working for them. Ortiz quit working at the VA and began school but has not been reimbursed for his education.”
Ortiz’s lawyers have argued that he did not mean what he said about harming the president and no danger was ever actually present, per court filings and testimony.
Ortiz’s trial is scheduled to continue Friday.