Man found roaming with weapons near the White House arrested; threatened to kill the president

The US Secret Service on Thursday arrested a man who was moving about suspiciously near the White House in Washington. He said voices in his head told him to come to Washington to kill President Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security said.

The vehicle used by the man, a Venezuelan national named Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, was stolen, and a rifle, two handguns and several dozen rounds of ammunition were found in it, officials said.

He was arrested on charges including weapons offences, unauthorised use of a vehicle and possession of stolen goods, and is now in the custody of the Marshals Service. He entered the US illegally in 2024, the department said.

Secret Service director Sean Curran said the incident showed the force's training and experience. The number of people coming near the White House with weapons is rising, he noted, and incidents involving those with mental health problems have increased.

In May, officers shot dead a person who opened fire near a White House security checkpoint.