A Kansas man allegedly threatened to shoot President Donald Trump and claimed he had already surveyed rooftops near the site of the president’s planned speech, prompting a federal investigation that led to his arrest before Trump’s visit.
Jaden J. Read, 24, of Clearwater, was charged Saturday with threatening the president, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas said. Authorities arrested him the same day, two days before Trump was scheduled to appear in Wichita on Monday.
Prosecutors said the investigation began Oct. 15, after a Crime Stoppers tip alerted authorities to comments posted beneath a KAKE News Facebook article about Trump’s trip.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport on October 14, 2026, in Bullhead City, Arizona. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“Let’s shoot Trump honestly, where’s our shooter? I’m tired of living this money life,” Read allegedly wrote.
According to prosecutors, Read followed that post with another comment claiming he had ammunition and threatening to kill the president.
Investigators later uncovered more alleged threats in the comments section of a separate KWCH 12 News Facebook article about Trump’s visit.
“Can we shoot him in Kansas please I will myself,” Read allegedly posted.
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U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up an appearance at a campaign rally at Pinnacle Bank Expo Center on the Nebraska State Fairgrounds on Oct. 5, 2026 in Grand Island, Neb. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
A minute later, prosecutors said, Read claimed he knew where Trump would deliver his speech and had studied the surrounding rooftops.
“IK where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since yall couldn’t help him,” the comment read, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (Evan Vucci, File, AP Photo)
Read was arrested in Clearwater and taken into federal custody. Prosecutors said he would remain detained while awaiting a detention hearing.
“Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser said in a statement Monday.
“The First Amendment allows for robust disagreement, but there are constraints. I caution people to stay within the bounds of constitutionally protected speech.”