A 23-year-old man from Texas was arrested early Tuesday after scaling the fence surrounding President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The U.S. Secret Service and Palm Beach Police responded promptly after alarms were triggered shortly after midnight.
The suspect, identified as Anthony Thomas Reyes, told authorities he intended to “spread the gospel” to President Trump and expressed a desire to marry Kai Madison Trump, the president’s 18-year-old granddaughter. Reyes was taken into custody by Secret Service agents without incident before being transferred to local police, who charged him with trespassing.
At the time of the incident, President Trump was in Washington, D.C., and no protectees were present at the Mar-a-Lago property. Reyes had previously been warned for trespassing at the estate on New Year’s Eve 2024 but was not charged then.
This arrest adds to a series of security concerns at Trump-owned properties. In 2024, authorities apprehended a man near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course who allegedly planned an assassination attempt. Other trespassing incidents at Mar-a-Lago have also been reported recently.
Following his arrest, Reyes was held on a $50,000 bond and pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor trespassing charges. A judge has ordered him to avoid any contact with the Trump family or their properties as the case proceeds.
Security experts emphasize that, despite Reyes’s nonviolent stated intentions, any unauthorized entry at a protected site like Mar-a-Lago is taken seriously. The Secret Service continues to review and strengthen security measures at high-profile residences amid ongoing political tensions.
This latest breach highlights the persistent challenges in safeguarding locations associated with current and former presidents.