A 24-year-old Kansas man has been charged after allegedly calling for President Donald Trump to be shot, according to officials. 

Jaden J. Read, from Clearwater, was arrested on Saturday after a tip alerted authorities to a string of disturbing Facebook posts about Trump’s upcoming visit to Wichita on Monday, the Department of Justice said. 

Federal prosecutors said the investigation began on October 15 when someone contacted Crime Stoppers about comments that Read left beneath a KAKE News report announcing the president’s October 19 appearance.

In one post, Read allegedly called for someone to shoot Trump, writing, ‘Let’s shoot Trump honestly, where’s our shooter? I’m tired of living this money life.’

He then allegedly followed up in the comments by claiming he had obtained ammunition and threatening to kill the president.

‘I just got a 308 and 305 round and I’m killing this pedo,’ Read wrote.

On October 17, investigators subsequently uncovered further comments Read had made beneath a separate report by KWCH 12 News about Trump’s visit.

Read allegedly wrote that he would shoot the president himself before claiming he knew where Trump would be speaking and had already identified nearby rooftops.

A 24-year-old Kansas man has been arrested after allegedly calling for President Donald Trump to be shot, according to officials

Jaden J. Read, from Clearwater, was arrested on Saturday, two days after a tip alerted authorities to a string of disturbing Facebook posts about Trump’s upcoming visit to Wichita on Monday, the Department of Justice said

‘Can we shoot him in Kansas please I will myself,’ Read wrote.

One minute later, Read wrote, ‘IK where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since yall couldn’t help him.’

The comments prompted a federal investigation, resulting in Read’s arrest in Clearwater on October 17.

He is now being held in federal custody while awaiting a detention hearing.

Read faces a federal charge of threatening the president, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years.

Ryan A Kriegshauser, the US attorney for Kansas, said the case served as a warning that political disagreements did not give people the right to make threats of violence.

He stressed that while Americans are entitled to express strong political opinions, that freedom has legal limits.

The investigation is being carried out by the Secret Service, US Marshals Service, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol and Wichita Police Department. 

Federal prosecutors said the investigation began on October 15 when someone contacted Crime Stoppers about comments that Read left beneath a KAKE News report announcing the president’s October 19 appearance

Read allegedly wrote that he would shoot the president (pictured boarding Air Force One ahead of the rally) himself before claiming he knew where Trump would be speaking and had already identified nearby rooftops

Read’s mention of rooftops echoes the same location that Thomas Matthew Crooks used when he shot Trump on July 13, 2024. 

Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, fired eight rounds from an AR-15-style rifle at Trump just moments after he took the stage. 

The president’s right ear was wounded, and a rally attendee, Corey Comperatore, died. Two others were injured. 

The shooter climbed a building near the rally, and police at the event were aware of his presence about 90 minutes before he shot the gun, 

He was subsequently killed by a Secret Service member who shot him in the head. 

It also comes as Trump continues his midterm travel blitz ahead of the November 3 elections. 

He headed to Kansas on Monday to rally for Senator Roger Marshall, an incumbent Republican who is running against Adam Hamilton (D) and David Graham (L). 

Read’s mention of rooftops echoes the same location that Thomas Matthew Crooks used when he shot Trump on July 13, 2024

Before he jetted off, Trump launched a blistering attack at Fox News, accusing the network of ‘spending more time defending Democrats’ than broadcasting Republican views. 

‘Fox spends more time defending Dumocrats, and putting on their views versus their Republican opponent, than at any time in the history of Fox News. It’s ridiculous!’ Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday afternoon. 

‘Fox News is trying too hard to be politically correct! Watch my big Kansas Rally today on RSBN [Right Side Broadcast Network]. Great early coverage!’

It is the latest in a string of attacks in less than three weeks on the network that has long served as MAGA’s home turf.

Trump is set to speak at 6pm at the Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, Kansas.