A Kansas man has been charged with threatening to kill President Donald Trump after allegedly posting online comments about shooting the president and claiming to have mapped out nearby rooftops ahead of Trump’s Monday visit to Wichita.
Jaden John Read was charged with knowingly and willfully threatening to take the life of or inflict bodily harm on the president, according to a federal criminal complaint filed Oct. 17. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The alleged threats surfaced ahead of Trump’s planned Monday evening rally in Wichita, where the president is scheduled to campaign for Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS). Marshall is facing a competitive reelection contest against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, making the president’s visit a significant moment in a race that could have implications for the Senate majority.
Read allegedly posted the comments on Facebook on Oct. 15 in response to news articles about Trump’s Kansas visit. According to an affidavit signed by a Secret Service officer, the Wichita Police Department contacted the Secret Service after receiving a Crime Stoppers tip about the posts.
In one comment responding to a local article, Read allegedly wrote, “Lets shoot Trump honestly. Where’s our shooter? I’m tired of living this money life.”
He followed up with another comment stating, “I just got a 308 and 305 round and I’m killing this pedo,” according to the complaint.
Investigators also identified a separate comment Read allegedly posted in response to a KWCH 12 News article about the visit. In that post, he wrote, “Jk where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since yall couldn’t help him,” referencing the 2025 murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
According to the complaint, Wichita Police Department Deputy Chief Dan East contacted the Secret Service on Oct. 15 and provided investigators with a file containing the Crime Stoppers tip and screenshots of the Facebook comments. Secret Service investigators subsequently located the additional comment about Trump’s speech and nearby rooftops.
The investigation comes during heightened security concerns surrounding Trump’s public appearances, as threats against the president can carry significant federal penalties.
The criminal complaint lists potential penalties of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
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Trump’s appearance is intended to bolster Marshall, who is seeking another term in the Senate. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average for Sept. 8 through Oct. 14, Marshall led Hamilton by just 0.3 percentage points, with the Republican at 46% and the Democrat at 45.7%.
A Democratic victory would be a historic upset in Kansas, where no Democrat has won a Senate seat since 1932.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
