A man named Vem Miller, 49, was arrested near Donald Trump’s rally in Coachella Valley after being found in possession of illegal weapons. He was stopped at a checkpoint about a quarter of a mile from the event, where authorities discovered a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine in his vehicle. Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies took Miller into custody without incident after he presented suspicious credentials.
Miller allegedly showed fake VIP passes and press credentials, which led officers to search his vehicle and find the illegal weapons. The Riverside County Sheriff, Chad Bianco, initially suggested that the deputies may have thwarted a third assassination attempt on the former president.
However, Bianco later walked back that statement, clarifying that while the team was well-prepared, they had no definitive information about any assassination plot.
Donald Trump
Despite the confusion around Miller’s intentions, Sheriff Bianco emphasized that law enforcement’s preparedness likely prevented any incident from occurring. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has been informed about the arrest but assured that it did not compromise Trump’s safety. They continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest and Miller’s possible motivations.
This incident is notable because it follows two other attempts on Trump’s life in recent months. In July, Thomas Matthew Crooks shot at Trump, injuring his ear in Pennsylvania, but was taken down by Secret Service snipers. Another attempt occurred in September when Ryan Wesley Routh allegedly tried to shoot Trump at a golf course, but the Secret Service managed to stop him.
Vem Miller did not get as close to Trump as these previous attackers, and his motivations remain unclear. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine why Miller was armed near the rally and if he posed any specific threat to the former president.
