In a developing and unsettling incident, a 23-year-old Texas man has been arrested after jumping a wall at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The man, identified as Anthony Thomas Reyes, told law enforcement his motivation for the break-in was to “spread the gospel” to the former president—and to marry Trump’s recently-of-age granddaughter, Kai Madison Trump.
According to arrest records and a statement from the Secret Service, the intrusion occurred shortly after midnight. Reyes managed to scale the perimeter fence surrounding Mar-a-Lago, which triggered security alarms. He was apprehended swiftly by the Palm Beach Police Department and taken into custody without further incident.
This is not Reyes’ first attempt to enter the highly protected property. Authorities confirmed that the same man was caught trespassing at Mar-a-Lago on New Year’s Eve. At that time, he received only a warning. The reasons for not pressing charges after the initial incident remain unclear, and it’s not known whether Kai Trump was present at the estate during either attempt.
Anthony Thomas Reyes, 23, was arrested early Tuesday after allegedly attempting to unlawfully enter the president’s resort, claiming he wanted to “spread the gospel” and marry Trump’s granddaughter Kai. pic.twitter.com/Zv6AVTim7c
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 4, 2025
This second breach has led to Reyes being charged with misdemeanor trespassing, though officials say federal charges may still be under consideration. Court documents indicate that Reyes has pleaded not guilty and is currently being held in the Palm Beach County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
President Trump was reportedly in Washington, D.C. at the time of the latest intrusion. However, he was on the property during Reyes’ first attempt to gain access in December, raising renewed questions about the level of security at the estate, especially given its status as both a personal residence and a symbolic stronghold of Trump’s post-presidency.
NEW: 23-year-old man arrested for jumping over President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago wall so he could “marry” Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump.
Anthony Thomas Reyes told police that he jumped the wall because he wanted to marry Trump’s 18-year-old granddaughter.
Reyes was previously… pic.twitter.com/ej8w40LhXY
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 3, 2025
The detail that has drawn particular concern is Reyes’ stated intention of marrying Kai Trump. Kai, who just turned 18 in May, is President Trump’s eldest granddaughter and recently stepped into the public eye during the 2024 Republican National Convention. Her speech, where she spoke fondly of her grandfather and playfully described their shared love of golf, earned warm applause and increased visibility. In January, she posted a heartfelt video about her excitement attending Trump’s Inauguration, stating she believed “these next four years are going to be the best America has ever had in a very long time.”
The incident comes amid a concerning trend: since the July 13th assassination attempt on President Trump, security at Mar-a-Lago has seen at least nine reported breaches. Among them was a 39-year-old Chinese national who was arrested shortly after the assassination attempt. These repeated security challenges have prompted increased scrutiny of protective measures in place at the Palm Beach compound.
At this time, no statement has been released by the Trump family regarding the incident involving Reyes, and it is unknown whether Kai has had any prior contact with him. The Secret Service has stated that it will continue its active role in coordinating with local law enforcement to safeguard the property and those residing on it.
This story continues to unfold, and while no one was harmed during the incident, the nature of the intruder’s motives—and the fact that this was his second attempt—has raised serious concerns about the safety of those associated with the former president.
