Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida has witnessed its fair share of security scares, but the latest incident involves a curious mix of romance and religion.
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In the early hours of Tuesday morning, an alleged trespasser breached the estate with the bizarre claim that he wanted to marry Trump's granddaughter, 18-year-old Kai Trump. As if that wasn't peculiar enough, he also insisted he was there to 'spread the gospel.' Authorities swiftly responded, and what followed is a tale that has captured both headlines and the public's attention.
Intruder breaks in at Mar-a-Lago
The Palm Beach Police Department was alerted just after midnight on Tuesday. Officers arrived at Mar-a-Lago to find the suspect, 23-year-old Anthony Thomas Reyes, already in the custody of the US Secret Service. According to a police affidavit viewed by The Independent, Reyes admitted to climbing over the club's perimeter wall. His reason? To propose marriage to Kai Trump and preach to the President.
The Secret Service confirmed the event:
Shortly after midnight, the individual scaled a perimeter fence and triggered alarms. U.S. Secret Service personnel detained him without incident at the scene.
At the time of the incident, neither Donald Trump nor his granddaughter was present. Trump was in Washington, DC, and Kai—who is worth $1.2 billion—was reportedly vacationing in the Bahamas.
Despite the property being one of the most secure in the country, this is not the first time Mar-a-Lago's defences have been tested. Reyes had previously attempted to enter the estate on New Year's Eve in 2024 and was issued a warning. As reported by Daily Mail, Trump was present during that previous incident.
What do we know about the intruder?
Anthony Thomas Reyes is a 23-year-old from Irving, Texas, who works as a cashier, according to court documents.
Following the break-in, he was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail at 4:10 am and charged with misdemeanour trespassing. His bond has been set at $50,000, and he has pleaded not guilty. A Palm Beach judge has issued a restraining order preventing him from contacting any member of the Trump family, including Kai.
This latest incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of Mar-a-Lago's security, particularly after last year’s assassination attempt on Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course.
Reyes's focus on Kai Trump adds another layer of discomfort. Kai, daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump, is a rising golf star and a popular presence online. She recently turned 18 and posted a YouTube video showing a family vacation in the Bahamas.
In the video, she said:
I'm gonna hit some balls because why not. Worked on my swing a little. It's beautiful.
Her grandfather, in a recent vlog appearance, praised her game:
I just wanna say that I play a lot of golf with Kai and she's a fantastic golfer. She's a scratch player, which is amazing.
Read more:
Secret Service nightmare as Donald Trump’s granddaughter Kai followed by crowd at golf tournament
Donald Trump’s granddaughter Kai estimated to be worth $1.2 million in NIL deals
Sources used:
The Independent: Intruder found at Mar-a-Lago said he wanted to ‘marry’ Trump’s granddaughter Kai and ‘spread gospel’, police say
Daily Mail: Disturbing criminal past of Kai Trump stalker who broke into Mar-a-Lago to "marry her"
