WICHITA, KS – A 24-year-old man out of Kansas is facing federal charges after allegedly posting online a purported plan to assassinate President Donald Trump earlier in October where the accused allegedly bragged about having scouted area rooftops outside of a planned rally in Wichita where the president was slated to speak.
According to a press release from the Justice Department, the Wichita Police Department contacted the U.S. Secret Service following a Crime Stoppers tip that came in regarding some disturbing comments posted on Facebook on October 15 in response to a news article detailing President Trump’s then-upcoming visit to Wichita for a speaking engagement.
The Facebook account in question, reportedly owned and operated by 24-year-old Jaden John Read, had allegedly posted a comment in response to the article that read, “Let’s shoot Trump honestly, where’s our shooter? I’m tired of living this money life.” Read allegedly posted a second comment on the same news article which allegedly stated, “I just got a 308 and 305 round and I’m killing this pedo.”
Authorities claim Read then made additional comments on Facebook on a separate news article detailing the same then-upcoming visit to Wichita by Trump, with the first reading, “Can we shoot him in Kansas please I will myself,” and the follow-up comment reportedly reading, “[I know] where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since yall couldn’t help him.”
Given the context of the alleged comments left by Read on social media, the term “kirked” in said sense derives from the modern online-left’s minimization and mockery of the assassination of Charlie Kirk back in September of 2025.
Facebook reportedly responded to an emergency disclosure request from federal authorities that helped law enforcement identify Read as the alleged individual behind the threatening comments left online.
Apparently, both IP address information alongside an email address connected to the Facebook profile that aligned with a Kansas Department of Labor unemployment benefits application filed by Read in the past lead authorities to taking Read into custody on October 17 in Clearwater, Kansas.
U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser said in a statement regarding the case, “Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated. The first Amendment allows for robust disagreement but there are constraints. I caution people to stay within the bounds of constitutionally protected speech.”
Read is currently facing charges of threats against the president and will remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing that has yet to be publicly announced.
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