A man armed with a machete was arrested after trying to enter the US Capitol just before Donald Trump’s planned visit.
Trump plans to pay his respects to former President Jimmy Carter as his body lies in the complex’s rotunda on Thursday ahead of his state funeral.
And a handful of his Cabinet picks, including Pete Hegseth, RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, are making the rounds in Senate offices today.
Capitol Police confirmed that the machete-wielding man, who also tried to sneak in three knives, was arrested Wednesday around 2 p.m., just hours before Trump’s arrival.
The president-elect also plans to meet with senators to discuss his Cabinet picks and upcoming legislative priorities such as immigration reform and tax cuts.
Capitol Police confirmed the man had been arrested a wire on X Wednesday afternoon.
“Our officers stopped and arrested a man who attempted to enter the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) with a machete,” the first post began.
Capitol Police confirmed the machete-wielding man, who also tried to sneak in three knives, was arrested around 2 p.m.
Police vehicles are parked outside the US Capitol in Washington, USA, January 2, 2025
People pay their respects to former US President Jimmy Carter as his flag-draped casket lies in state at the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC on January 8, 2025.
“During the security checkpoint at the north doors of the CVC, our officers observed a machete in the man’s bag, stopped the X-ray machine, arrested the man and secured the machete.”
But authorities discovered more than just a machete.
“Three knives were also found in the bag, along with the machete,” authorities revealed.
“While we were investigating, security on the north side of the Capitol Visitor Center was temporarily suspended.”
The man, who has not been named, is being arrested on “multiple charges of carrying a dangerous weapon.”
Capitol Police said additional information will be forthcoming.
The chilling announcement comes just hours before Trump is expected to visit Carter’s remains in the Capitol Rotunda.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Tuesday, January 7, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida
Capitol Police officers stand guard outside the Capitol 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, DC
Capitol Police quickly arrested the man with the weapons, they wrote
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 in advance.
Although authorities have not shared a motive behind the incident.
The CVC, the location where the man with the machete and knives was apprehended, is not particularly close to where lawmakers meet, although it is a publicly accessible space where families and school groups on tours typically enter the Capitol.
There are 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 consulted with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on how best to advance his many political priorities can achieve.
Achieving these many legislative goals will require significant cooperation from Republicans in both chambers.
Things will be acutely difficult in the House of Representatives, as Speaker Johnson only has a majority vote, meaning he can get only one of the 219 Republican lawmakers to vote against his plans.
Trump has posted online about his desired “big beautiful bill,” a message he sent indicating he wants all of his top goals, like tax cuts, immigration reform and more, all in one package.
Thune, meanwhile, has advocated passing separate bills to make the legislation less onerous.
They are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss how to proceed with this plan.
The president-elect will also likely speak to the Republican senators responsible for confirming his Cabinet about his selections.