Man arrested coming into the Capitol with a machete and three knives
A man with a machete was arrested after trying to enter the U.S. Capitol just before Donald Trump‘s scheduled visit.
Trump plans to pay his respects to former President Jimmy Carter as his body is lying in the rotunda of the complex ahead of his state funeral on Thursday.
Capitol Police confirmed the machete-yielding man who also tried to sneak in three knives was arrested just around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, just hours before Trump’s arrival.
The president-elect also plans to meet with senators to discuss his plans.
Capitol Police confirmed the man was arrested in a thread on X Wednesday afternoon.
‘Our officers stopped and arrested a man who tried to get a machete into the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC),’ the first post began.
‘During security screening at the CVC’s north doors, our officers spotted a machete in the man’s bag, stopped the x-ray machine, arrested the man, and secured the machete.’
But authorities uncovered more than just a machete.
Police vehicles are parked outside the US Capitol building in Washington, U.S., January 2, 2025
The people pays their respects to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter as his flag-draped casket lies in state at the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 8, 2025
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida
‘Three knives were also found in the bag, along with the machete,’ the authorities revealed.
‘Security screening was temporarily stopped at the north side of the Capitol Visitor Center while we investigated.’
The man, who was not named, is being arrested for ‘multiple charges of Carrying a Dangerous Weapon.’
The Capitol Police said additional information is to come.
The frightening announcement comes just hours before Trump is expected to visit Carter’s remains in the Capitol Rotunda.
The late president is currently lying in state, a special honor for high-ranking deceased politicians.
Trump’s visit had been planned for days and was publicly known ahead of time.
Though authorities have not shared a motive behind the incident.
Capitol Police officers stand watch outside the Capitol building as snow falls ahead of a joint session of Congress to certify the results of the 2024 Presidential election on January 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
The Capitol Police swiftly arrested the man with the weapons, they wrote
The CVC, the location the man with the machete and knives was apprehended, is not particularly close to where lawmakers gather, though it is an area open to the public where families and school groups on tours generally enter the Capitol.
There has been no reports of injuries.
After visiting Carter, the president-elect is expected to meet with congressional leaders ahead of his swearing-in ceremony in two weeks.
Recently the 78-year-old has been engaging with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., about how to best achieve his many political priorities.
Getting these many legislative goals done will take major cooperation for Republicans in both chambers.
In the House, it will be acutely difficult, as Speaker Johnson only has a few vote majority, meaning he can only have one of the 219 GOP lawmakers vote against his plans.
Trump has been posting online about his desired ‘big beautiful bill,’ a message he has sent indicating that he wants all of his top objectives like tax cuts, immigration reform and more all in one package.
Thune, meanwhile, has advocated for passing seperate bills to make the legislation less heavy.
Gathering together on Wednesday they are expected to discuss how to go about this plan.
The president-elect is will also presumably speak to the GOP senators in charge of confirming his Cabinet about his selections.
