A man named Vem Miller, 49, was arrested near a Donald Trump rally in Coachella, California, on Saturday for illegally possessing firearms, including a shotgun and a loaded handgun. Miller was stopped at a security checkpoint in his black SUV, where police discovered the firearms along with a “high-capacity magazine.” According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s office, Miller was taken into custody without incident but was later released on a $5,000 bail. He faces two misdemeanor weapons charges.
Miller, who claimed to be a Trump supporter, denied any intention of harming the Republican presidential candidate. In an interview with Fox News, he said he frequently traveled with guns but had never fired one. The US Secret Service and local police confirmed that Trump’s safety was never compromised during the incident.
During a news conference, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco noted that while no clear assassination attempt could be proven, he believed his officers might have prevented a potential third attempt on Trump’s life. Bianco, a Trump supporter and surrogate for his campaign, described Miller as a “lunatic.”
Inside Miller’s vehicle, officers found fake license plates, multiple passports with different names, and various driving licenses. The discovery of the homemade license plate was linked to the Sovereign Citizens movement, a known anti-government group, though Miller denied any affiliation.
This arrest comes amid heightened security concerns around Trump, especially following two prior alleged assassination attempts earlier this year. The first occurred during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a sniper attack left one person dead. The second incident involved a man arrested outside Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, found with a rifle in the bushes. Both incidents underscore the ongoing threats and increased security surrounding Trump in the lead-up to the upcoming election. Federal authorities are continuing to investigate the Coachella incident.
