Secret Service officers arrested a Venezuelan national just blocks from the White House on Thursday night after he allegedly told them voices in his head had ordered him to come to Washington and assassinate President Trump — then led them to three loaded firearms stashed inside a stolen car.

Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chirinos was taken into custody in the 1600 block of Constitution Avenue NW, near the Ellipse, after officers on patrol noticed him acting suspiciously inside a parked vehicle, according to the Department of Homeland Security. When officers approached, DHS says Guanipa Chirinos told them he'd heard voices directing him to kill the president. A records check showed the car had been reported stolen, and he allegedly admitted there were weapons inside.

Three guns, dozens of rounds

A search turned up three firearms — including a rifle — and dozens of rounds of ammunition. He now faces nine charges, including three counts each of unlawfully transporting a firearm, carrying unregistered firearms and carrying unregistered ammunition, plus single counts of possessing a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft and receiving stolen property.

DHS says Guanipa Chirinos entered the U.S. through Texas in March 2024, was arrested by Border Patrol and later released. It's unclear whether he has retained an attorney.

THIS ILLEGAL ALIEN WITH THREE FIREARMS IN HIS VEHICLE WAS ARRESTED NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE

That's how Homeland Security's Markwayne Mullin framed the arrest in a statement Friday, while Secret Service Director Sean Curran credited his officers with "relying on extensive training and experience to deescalate a volatile situation."

Part of a grim pattern

The arrest adds to a run of threats against Trump that officials have tallied since last year's campaign — from the July 2024 shooting at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally to an April incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in which a gunman breached security and wounded a Secret Service officer. Each has triggered fresh scrutiny of protective procedures around the president and his properties.

Thursday's arrest happened without incident and without shots fired, officials said, crediting the officers' decision to talk Guanipa Chirinos down once they learned weapons were present.

What's next

Guanipa Chirinos is expected to make an initial court appearance in Washington, where prosecutors will lay out the federal weapons and theft charges. His immigration status adds a second legal track: DHS has flagged him for removal proceedings once the criminal case concludes, though that timeline could stretch for months. The Secret Service said it is reviewing how he was able to park so close to the White House perimeter undetected for as long as he reportedly was.