US Secret Service arrests man with three firearms in vehicle near White House

The US Secret Service, the federal agency that protects the president, arrested a Venezuelan national, Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, near the White House in Washington on Thursday evening. According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement, he threatened to kill President Donald Trump. The case is the latest in a series of arrests over threats against Trump since he returned to the White House in January 2025.

How the arrest unfolded

DHS said officers noticed the man behaving suspiciously in a car parked on Constitution Avenue and approached him. He reportedly told them he had heard voices in his head telling him to kill Trump.

Officers then found that the vehicle had been reported stolen, and the man admitted there were weapons inside. They discovered three different firearms, including one rifle, along with dozens of rounds of ammunition.

Charges and immigration status

Chrinos has been charged with multiple offences, including possession of dangerous weapons and theft. He is in the custody of the US Marshals Service. DHS says he entered the US illegally through Texas in March 2024.

Official comments

Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the incident reflects the heightened threat environment and the continued number of armed individuals drawn to the White House complex. He said personnel are trained for such situations and confident in their tactics, but the agency is alarmed by the rising number of threat cases.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin thanked the officers and described the man as a "criminal illegal alien" who was arrested before he could harm anyone.