During a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on Thursday, former President Donald Trump abruptly ended an interview with a NewsNation reporter by saying “we’re in danger” and that the Secret Service “doesn’t want me standing here” after law enforcement had launched a manhunt for a local man who allegedly made death threats to Trump on social media.
According to the sheriff’s office for Arizona’s Cochise County, where Trump was holding a campaign event, the suspect had been taken into custody around 2:35 p.m. MST, about an hour before Trump spoke with NewsNation. It was unclear if Trump knew about the arrest.
“Can I tell you something? We’re in danger standing here talking, so let’s not talk any longer,” Trump said after answering a few unrelated questions. “I know about it, but they don’t want me standing here. They don’t want you standing here either. Have a good time, thank you very much.”
He then walked towards his motorcade and ended the interview.
Trump was the victim of an assassination attempt last month at an outdoor rally in Pennsylvania when a gunman opened fire, shot Trump in the ear, wounded two others and killed a rallygoer. Secret Service protection has been heightened in the weeks since and he was surrounded by walls of bulletproof glass at his event in in North Carolina on Wednesday, the first outdoor rally since the shooting.
At the Arizona event, snipers stood nearby at an elevated position, their eyes and weapons pointed toward Mexico. Security forces were also visible on the Mexican side of the border, including several men with rifles and tactical gear. Others wore uniforms identifying them as members of the Mexican state police.
Trump made the trip to Arizona to rail against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their handling of border security and immigration. As he took questions, Trump was asked about the manhunt, which was at the time still ongoing, and said he was unaware of the threats.
“I haven’t heard it about that, they probably want to keep it from me. Thank you for telling me. Let’s get out of here right now,” he joked, before praising the Secret Service for protecting him at the Pennsylvania rally.
The man in question, Benson, Ariz., resident Ronald Lee Syvrud, was wanted on several outstanding warrants in Wisconsin and Arizona, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office said, including for failing to appear in court for a DUI charge, a hit and run charge and felony failure to register as a sex offender. Spokesperson Carol Capas told Spectrum News he was arrested within Cochise County on Thursday, he was still being transported to where he would be held as of 4:15 p.m. MST and that the sheriff would share more information later in the evening.
Syvrud is 66 years old, according to the sheriff’s office.
“The U.S. Secret Service investigates all threats against our protectees. As this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further at this time,” Secret Service spokesperson Alexandria Worley told CNN.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.