An Arizona man, Ronald Syvrud, was arrested on Thursday after threatening to kill former US President Donald Trump on social media. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest, noting that Syvrud was already on the wanted list for other crimes. Syvrud, 66, has several outstanding warrants from Wisconsin and was taken into custody the same day Trump was visiting Cochise County as part of his campaign, where he toured the US-Mexico border.
Outstanding Warrants
Syvrud has been booked into the Cochise County jail on a felony warrant from Graham County, Arizona, for failure to register as a sex offender. He also faces two counts of threatening in connection with this case. Authorities have stated that Syvrud will remain in custody pending further legal proceedings.
Trump’s Response to the Threat
When asked about the threat against him, Trump responded, “I am not that surprised, and the reason is because I want to do things that are very bad for the bad guys.” Trump downplayed the danger, implying that his policies make him a target for those involved in illegal activities.
Ongoing Threats Against Political Figures
Trump is not the only high-profile figure to receive threats. Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris has also been targeted during her campaign. Earlier this month, a man from Virginia was charged with threatening to kill Harris. Additionally, a New Hampshire man was arrested in December for threatening to kill Trump.
Secret Service Under Scrutiny
US Secret Service has faced intense scrutiny following an assassination attempt on Trump, which led to the resignation of the agency’s director. Despite these challenges, Trump expressed his “great respect” for the Secret Service and their work, acknowledging that while mistakes were made, he believes they will learn and improve.