A 23-year-old Texas man was arrested early Tuesday morning after allegedly breaching security at Mar-a-Lago, the private Florida resort owned by former President Donald Trump. According to authorities, the man, identified as Anthony Thomas Reyes, scaled a perimeter fence shortly after midnight in an attempt to meet Trump and “spread the gospel.” He also claimed he intended to marry the former president’s granddaughter.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed Reyes triggered alarms upon entering the restricted area and was quickly detained on the premises without incident. Palm Beach Police later took him into custody and charged him with occupied trespassing. No Secret Service protectees, including Trump himself, were present at the time of the incident.
Reyes allegedly told officers that his purpose was to share a religious message with Trump and then propose marriage to Kai Madison Trump, the 18-year-old daughter of Donald Trump Jr. The bizarre motive added a disturbing layer to the situation, which is now being viewed as a serious breach of security at one of the most closely guarded residences in the country.
This isn’t Reyes’s first encounter with Mar-a-Lago security. He was previously arrested for trespassing at the property on New Year’s Eve 2024, making this his second known intrusion. He is now being held at the Palm Beach County Jail with a bond set at $50,000. A judge has ordered him to avoid any contact with the former president or any members of the Trump family.
The security lapse is particularly alarming given recent threats against the former president. Less than a year ago, Ryan Wesley Routh was charged with attempted first-degree murder and terrorism after an alleged assassination attempt at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach. That case is still pending in Florida courts.
With the latest breach, serious questions are being raised about the robustness of security protocols at Mar-a-Lago. Even though Trump wasn’t present during the incident, the fact that someone was able to access the estate’s grounds at night has ignited concern among supporters and critics alike. The recurrence of intrusions and past threats is prompting renewed scrutiny over how security is being handled at properties tied to the former president.