Kansas man arrested for threatening to shoot Trump before Wichita rally
Synopsis
A 24-year-old Kansas man posted explicit Facebook threats to shoot President Trump — including that he had 'mapped out roofs' near the rally venue — before being arrested days before the Wichita event. The case invokes the September 2025 assassination of Charlie Kirk and is the latest in a string of security incidents around the president.
Key Takeaways
Jaden Read , 24 , was arrested on 18 October 2025 in Clearwater, Kansas for allegedly threatening to shoot President Trump .
Read posted four threatening comments on Facebook across two local news articles about Trump's visit to Wichita, Kansas .
One post stated he had 'already mapped out roofs around' the speech venue, raising direct security concerns.
The phrase 'get kirked' in his posts reportedly references the September 2025 assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk .
Despite the threats, Trump held his campaign rally in Park City, Kansas , backing Senator Roger Marshall's reelection.
Read remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.
A 24-year-old Kansas man, identified as Jaden Read, was arrested on Saturday, 18 October 2025, for allegedly threatening to shoot US President Donald Trump ahead of a campaign rally in Wichita, Kansas, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas. Read remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing as authorities treat the threats as credible.
How the Threats Were Discovered
The investigation was triggered on 15 October when a tip directed authorities to Facebook comments posted by Read on a KAKE News article covering Trump's planned visit to Wichita. According to a press release issued by the attorney's office on Monday, Read wrote: 'Let's shoot Trump honestly, where's our shooter? I'm tired of living this money life.' He followed that immediately with a second comment: 'I just got a 308 and 305 round, and I'm killing this pedo.'
Additional Threats on a Second Platform
Investigators also found two further threatening comments posted by Read on a KWCH 12 News article about the president's visit. In those posts, Read allegedly wrote: 'Can we shoot him in Kansas, please I will myself,' and, a minute later, 'IK where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since y'all couldn't help him.' Investigators note that the phrase 'get kirked' appears to reference the September 2025 assassination of 31-year-old political activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
Arrest and Federal Custody
Read was taken into custody in Clearwater, Kansas, and has been placed in federal detention. A detention hearing is pending. Despite the threats, President Trump proceeded with his scheduled appearance, attending a campaign rally in Park City, Kansas, on Monday evening to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall's reelection bid.
A Pattern of Security Incidents
This arrest is the latest in a series of security incidents surrounding the president. Earlier in April 2025, a gunman carrying a shotgun breached the security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Trump was not harmed in that incident, and the gala was subsequently rescheduled and held on 24 July 2025. The repeated nature of these threats underscores the persistent security challenges facing the president's public schedule, which he has shown no indication of curtailing.
Point of View
Geographically specific threats posted openly on public social media, invoking recent political violence as inspiration. The reference to Charlie Kirk's assassination is significant — it suggests the suspect was not making an idle remark but was aware of prior attempts and framing his own words in that context. What the case also illustrates is the intelligence gap between social media moderation and law enforcement: the tip reportedly came from a third party, not a platform flag. That raises the question of how many similar posts go unnoticed. Trump's decision to proceed with the rally is consistent with his public posture, but the cumulative frequency of these incidents should prompt a harder look at how threat intelligence is being gathered and acted upon in real time.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jaden Read and what did he allegedly do?
Jaden Read is a 24-year-old man from Kansas who was arrested on 18 October 2025 for allegedly threatening to shoot President Donald Trump on Facebook. He posted multiple comments on local news articles referencing Trump's visit to Wichita, including claims of having 'mapped out roofs' near the rally site.
When and where was Jaden Read arrested?
Read was arrested on Saturday, 18 October 2025, in Clearwater, Kansas. He was placed in federal custody and is awaiting a detention hearing, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas.
Did the threats affect Trump's campaign rally in Kansas?
No. Despite the threats, President Trump attended a campaign rally in Park City, Kansas, on Monday evening to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall's reelection bid. The event proceeded without incident.
What does 'get kirked' mean in this context?
Investigators believe the phrase 'get kirked' references the September 2025 assassination of 31-year-old political activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. The usage suggests the suspect was deliberately invoking that incident.
Has Trump faced other security threats recently?
Yes. In April 2025, a gunman with a shotgun breached the security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Trump was unharmed, and the rescheduled gala was held on 24 July 2025. The Kansas arrest is the latest in a series of security incidents surrounding the president.
