Man arrested near White House after alleged threat against Trump

Three firearms and ammunition were inside the vehicle when Secret Service officers approached Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos near the White House on Thursday night, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

DHS says Chrinos, 26, told officers that voices in his head had told him to come to Washington and kill President Donald Trump. Chrinos, whom DHS described as a Venezuelan national, was arrested after officers saw him acting suspiciously while parked on Constitution Avenue near the White House.

What officers found: The vehicle had been reported stolen, DHS said. Officers recovered an AR-15-style rifle, a MAC-10 handgun, a Glock 43X pistol and ammunition, according to the department. Chrinos faces three counts each of unlawful transportation of a firearm, unregistered firearms and unregistered ammunition, along with charges involving dangerous weapons, carrying a pistol without a license, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft and receiving stolen property.

How the encounter began: A court affidavit cited by NBC News says Chrinos was asleep in a blue Ford F-150 when officers woke him at 11:42 p.m. Thursday. The encounter began as a welfare check, according to the affidavit. NBC reported that Chrinos used Google Translate to tell an officer he had weapons he wanted to hand over to the government.

The broader concern: Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the arrest reflected personnel training and cited an increase in threat cases. DHS said Chrinos entered the United States illegally in 2024, was arrested by Border Patrol and was later released. He remained in custody Friday, and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak for him.

Prosecutors were reviewing the evidence, according to NBC News, with a federal court appearance expected Monday.