Jaden J Read, 24, of Clearwater, Kansas, is facing federal charges for threatening the life of President Donald Trump. The arrest, executed on Saturday, stems from a series of Facebook comments Read allegedly made in response to local news coverage of Trump’s upcoming visit to the Wichita area.
The comments, surfaced by a Crime Stoppers tip on October 15, were blunt. Read responded to a KAKE News article with: “Let’s shoot Trump honestly, where’s our shooter? I’m tired of living this money life.” He followed up with: “I just got a 308 and 305 round and I’m killing this pedo.” In another thread responding to KWCH 12 News, he wrote: “Can we shoot him in Kansas please I will myself,” adding a minute later, “IK where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since yall couldn’t help him.”
US Attorney Ryan A Kriegshauser emphasized the legal boundaries of political speech. “Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated,” Kriegshauser said. He noted that while the First Amendment protects robust disagreement, it does not cover specific threats of violence. The investigation involved the US Secret Service, US Marshals Service, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Wichita Police Department.
Trump’s rally proceeded as scheduled on Monday at the Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, roughly 10 minutes from downtown Wichita. Security was tight. The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office reported one arrest near a designated free-speech zone for a traffic violation, while eleven “uninvited individuals” were escorted from the venue for causing disruptions.
Read remains in federal custody. A detention hearing is pending, where a judge will determine if he stays in jail or is released on bail while the criminal complaint proceeds.