Topline

A man with loaded firearms and fake passports was arrested outside security near former President Donald Trump's weekend rally in Coachella, California, in what law enforcement described as a likely “third assassination attempt” against the former president, a claim made by the suspect identifying him as a Trump supporter said was false.

Important facts

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Cons

Miller, who identifies as a Trump supporter on social media, strongly denied the allegations against him in an interview with Southern California News Group, publisher of the Los Angeles Daily News. Miller told the media outlet he was “shocked” by his arrest and allegations that he tried to harm Trump, saying, “These allegations are complete nonsense… I am the last person who would inflict violence and harm on anyone.” Miller claimed he was Trump's caucus captain and was invited to the rally by the chairman of the Clark County Republican Party. In his LinkedIn profile, Miller says he is a partner in the America Happens Network – a platform that claims to produce news content “that counters the official mainstream media narrative and brings the truth to the public.” Early Monday, Miller posted an hour-long video on the network's official Rumble channel in which he claimed everything the sheriff's office released were “complete lies” and repeated the claims made in the interview. Miller also told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he attended 10 other Trump rallies in New York and California with guns in the trunk of his car.

tangent

The 49-year-old is a registered Republican and ran in the GOP primary for a seat in the Nevada state legislature in 2022. Miller finished third in the primary. His LinkedIn profile suggests that he started his online media venture a few months after his election defeat. In a 2022 interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Miller said he was running for office because “this country has been taken over by tyranny” and said he would focus on alleged voter fraud if elected. On his Facebook page, Miller has posted several far-right conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines and 9/11, and even called for treason charges against Democrats.

Crucial quote

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told reporters: “I didn’t care what political party he was. I think it's the stupidest thing in the world that we have to call something his politics. He was a madman.”

Further reading

Man with loaded gun arrested at checkpoint near Donald Trump's weekend rally in Southern California (Associated Press)

Man Arrested With Guns At Trump Rally In Coachella; Riverside sheriff says they stopped assassination attempt (Los Angeles Daily News)