Kansas Man Threatens to Assassinate Trump

A 24-year-old Kansas man is facing a federal charge after allegedly threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump and claiming he had identified rooftops near the site of the president’s scheduled campaign rally.

The disturbing allegations prompted an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service just days before Trump’s October 19 appearance in the Wichita area, where he was scheduled to rally Republican voters ahead of the midterm elections.

Jaden John Read was charged with threatening the president after investigators linked him to several alarming Facebook comments, according to a federal criminal complaint filed October 17 in the U.S. District Court for Kansas and reported by RadarOnline.

One of the most concerning messages allegedly suggested that Read had already examined potential locations overlooking the president’s upcoming appearance.

“I know where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around,” Read allegedly wrote beneath a KWCH 12 News Facebook post discussing Trump’s visit.

The comment immediately raised questions about whether the suspect had done more than post threats online. However, investigators have not publicly established that Read actually surveyed any rooftops or developed a plan to carry out an attack.

According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began October 15 when Wichita Police Deputy Chief Dan East alerted the Secret Service to a Crime Stoppers tip concerning threatening Facebook comments.

The messages reportedly appeared beneath local news coverage of Trump’s upcoming Kansas appearance. Some allegedly called for someone to shoot the president, while another suggested that the person posting the messages possessed ammunition.

Investigators identified at least four threatening comments associated with the same Facebook account, including two allegedly posted approximately one minute apart on October 15.

Secret Service Special Agent Jonathan Schmucker outlined the allegations in an affidavit supporting the federal complaint.

Federal investigators subsequently obtained emergency disclosure records from Facebook to identify the individual behind the account. According to the filing, agents compared account registration details, including a name, birth date, telephone number and email address, with available law enforcement records.

Investigators also traced an internet connection associated with the account to Clearwater, Kansas, southwest of Wichita.

The case unfolded as Trump prepared for a major political appearance at Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, near Wichita.

The October 19 rally was organized to support Republican Sen. Roger Marshall’s reelection campaign as Republicans worked to energize voters ahead of November’s midterm elections.

The alleged threats also raised concerns about presidential security, particularly after Trump survived an assassination attempt during a July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

During that attack, a gunman fired from a nearby rooftop, wounding Trump in the ear, killing rally attendee Corey Comperatore and injuring two other spectators. The incident led to intense scrutiny of Secret Service security procedures and the protection of presidential candidates at public events.

The reference to rooftops in the Kansas case was therefore particularly concerning, although federal authorities have not established that Read possessed a weapon, physically visited the rally location or had the means to carry out his alleged threats.

Under federal law, knowingly and willfully threatening to kill or harm the president can result in serious criminal penalties, even when no physical attack takes place.

Read faces one count under Title 18, Section 871 of the United States Code, which criminalizes threats against the president and certain other federal officials.

A federal magistrate judge found probable cause supporting the complaint on October 17.

If convicted, Read could face up to five years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a period of supervised release.

Authorities have not publicly established whether any firearm was recovered during the investigation or whether the suspect had taken concrete steps toward carrying out an attack.

The case highlights the serious consequences of threatening a president and the continuing challenges federal authorities face in protecting elected officials during highly publicized political events.

Read is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.