Donald Trump was unaware of a giant manhunt for man who threatened to kill him during his trip to the southern border in Arizona.
DailyMail.com’s correspondent took the former president by surprise when he asked whether he felt he was in danger during his speech on immigration on Thursday.
The Republican nominee admitted he ‘hadn’t heard’ about the threat and said law enforcement probably ‘wanted to keep it’ from him.
With a chuckle he said ‘let’s get out of here’ and thanked the reporter.
‘I haven’t heard that but I’m not surprised,’ Trump said.
‘The reason is because I want to do things that are very bad for the bad guys. So, I have heard it’s very unsafe to make this trip. There were some people that really didn’t want me to make it.’
The local sheriff ramped up security in the area around the wall during the search for Ronald Lee Syvrud, 66, who is wanted in connection with an alleged assassination plot
It comes six weeks after an assassination attempt on Trump’s life saw a bullet hit the former president’s ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Ronald Lee Syvrud, 66, is being sought by Arizona authorities in connection with an alleged assassination plot on Donald Trump
Police said Syvrud has several other warrants out for his arrest on separate charges, including for a DUI and failure to appear in court in Wisconsin, and for failure to register as a sex offender and felony hit and run in Arizona.
Ahead of Trump’s speech at the border, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels told DailyMail.com authorities have ramped up security ‘based on the threats made’, as he pointed out that the event is ‘in an open venue.’
Syvrud is described as six-feet-tall, 220 pounds, and wearing glasses. His last known address is listed as Benson, Arizona.
Records show that he was a registered Democrat in the past, and owns a long rap sheet dating back to 1990 – including a conviction in 2000 for second degree sexual assault of a child, where he pleaded no contest.
The exact nature of the threats is unclear, however Sheriff Dannels told DailyMail.com they were received ‘off social media.’
‘We have zero tolerance for any kind of threats or intents of violence, so we’ll find him. He’ll go to jail,’ Dannels said.
‘He’s a registered sex offender here in Cochise County, and we were looking for him. He’s out of compliance as part of his violations. So we’re looking for him on that.
‘We’re going to arrest him on that. But also the fact his pulse was obviously directed toward this event. So we want to talk to him about that.’
As Dannels added that security was being ramped up ahead of the speech, Secret Service snipers could be seen perched on a crane surveying the area.
It comes six weeks after an assassination attempt on Trump’s life saw a bullet graze the former president’s ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
Secret Service snipers are seen perched on a crane to survey the area where Trump is set to speak in Cochise County, Arizona
Officials said security is heightened amid the alleged assassination plot
The planned attempt on Trump’s life was allegedly intended for his trip to the border in Sierra Vista, in a spot where his campaign has already traveled to.
Trump’s running mate JD Vance toured Sierra Vista three weeks ago, where he highlighted security concerns in the mountainous region and branded it a ‘smuggler’s paradise.’
Arizona officials said they believe Syvrud is at large in the border region, and are urgently attempting to locate him ahead of Trump’s visit.
Ahead of his trip to the area, Trump said on Truth Social on Wednesday that he would be addressing ‘the plague of migrant crime that so-called Border Czar, comrade Kamala Harris has unleashed on America.’
DailyMail.com has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.
The alleged plot was set to take place at Sierra Vista, Arizona, where Trump’s running mate JD Vance toured just three weeks ago (pictured on the trip)
On the trip to the border, Vance highlighted security concerns around the area where the alleged plot on Trump’s life was said to have been planned, branding the region a ‘smuggler’s paradise’
Secret Service agents raced to the stage and bundled Trump to the floor on July 13
When Vance toured Sierra Vista three weeks ago, he tore into Vice President Kamala Harris as a ‘failed Border Czar’ and blamed her for the migrant crisis.
The Ohio senator also highlighted security concerns at the ‘smuggler’s paradise’, around the area where the alleged plot on Trump’s life was said to have been planned.
The area poses a number of security concerns, as it is largely mountainous and has treacherous terrain, allowing vantage points for smugglers and cartel traffickers to avoid detection.
‘It’s unbelievable what we’re letting happen at the southern border, and it’s because Kamala Harris refuses to do her job,’ Vance said at the time.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk