A man was arrested near a security checkpoint at Donald Trump’s California rally on Saturday, raising concerns of a potential assassination attempt. Identified as 49-year-old Vem Miller from Las Vegas, the suspect was taken into custody by Riverside County deputies after being found with loaded firearms, multiple passports under different names, and a fake license plate. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco suggested that the arrest might have prevented an assassination, though he admitted that this was speculative. The incident occurred just before Trump took the stage, but the rally proceeded without disruption.
Miller was stopped in his black SUV at around 5 p.m., shortly before the rally began. According to the sheriff’s office, Miller was detained without incident. He was charged with possession of a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine, both classified as misdemeanors, and was released on a $5,000 bail later that same day. While the charges are relatively minor, the discovery of multiple passports and unregistered weapons has sparked a federal investigation into the matter.
Although Sheriff Bianco believes his department prevented a potentially deadly situation, federal authorities have urged caution, noting that the investigation is still ongoing. The U.S. Secret Service also confirmed that neither Trump nor the attendees were in any immediate danger. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles echoed this sentiment, stating that while no federal arrest has been made, their investigation into Miller’s motives continues.
This incident is the latest in a series of security scares involving Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign. Just months earlier, in July, Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt when a gunman’s bullet grazed his ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Another man was charged in September after being caught near Trump’s Palm Beach golf course with a rifle, further raising concerns about security measures surrounding the former president’s campaign.
The rally itself took place in the Coachella Valley, a region known for its annual music and arts festival. While this latest security breach did not result in harm, it has once again drawn attention to the vulnerabilities in protecting high-profile political figures like Trump, particularly as he continues his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Authorities are now looking closely at both local and federal levels to ensure stricter security protocols in the future.
