Possible 3rd Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump Foiled at Coachella Valley Campaign Event

Local authorities may have prevented a third assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Saturday, after detaining an armed man near a campaign event in Coachella Valley. The suspect was stopped by police at a checkpoint, raising concerns about a potential threat to Trump’s safety during the event.

The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Vem Miller, was stopped at a police checkpoint about half a mile from the event, where he was found with a loaded shotgun, handgun, high-capacity magazine, and counterfeit press and VIP passes.

“We probably stopped another assassination attempt,” Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco stated, referring to the incident.

Miller, a resident of Las Vegas, was taken into custody without resistance and later booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center. The sheriff’s office, in a news release on Sunday, confirmed that the event’s safety was not compromised and that neither Trump nor any attendees were in immediate danger.

The suspect was apprehended roughly 30 minutes before the start of Trump’s rally at Calhoun Ranch, near Coachella. Sheriff Bianco told The Epoch Times that police had arrested Miller, who allegedly admitted he intended to kill the former president. Following his arrest, Miller posted $5,000 bail and was released. He is scheduled to appear in court at the Indio Larson Justice Center on January 2.

Authorities revealed that Miller is a member of a right-wing, anti-government group and is a registered Republican. He holds a degree in English and American literature from the University of California, Los Angeles, and ran for the Nevada state assembly in 2022.

During his campaign, Miller had expressed a desire to combat what he described as tyranny in the U.S. and focused his policy platform on voter fraud, voter-ID laws, and solar energy projects.

Miller’s campaign received financial support from Reno GOP donors Robert and Nicole Beadles, according to finance reports. The Beadles family, who are known supporters of Trump and proponents of election fraud claims, have donated nearly $1 million to political candidates in Nevada. Robert Beadles had previously advocated for bringing “America First” candidates into office.

Miller’s involvement with Republican political circles extended beyond his campaign. He attended the 2023 Republican National Convention, where he filmed himself alongside prominent conservative figures, including Donald Trump Jr., Jordan Peterson, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Newt Gingrich. Social media posts show that Miller identifies as a pro-Trump Republican.

The Secret Service, in a statement, confirmed that the incident did not interfere with protective operations and thanked local law enforcement for their role in securing the event.

This would mark the third attempt on Trump’s life this year, if the allegations are proven. On July 13, Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, injuring the former president and causing one fatality among the attendees. In a separate incident in September, Ryan Wesley Routh was charged with attempted assassination after being discovered staked out near Trump International Golf Club in Florida with a rifle, waiting for an opportunity to shoot Trump during a golf game.

Investigations are ongoing, and authorities are expected to assess any broader connections Miller may have to other threats or organizations.