
A man wielding a machete and knives was arrested at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, moments before President-elect Donald Trump’s scheduled visit.
At a Glance
- Man arrested for attempting to bring a machete and three knives into the Capitol
- Weapons detected by U.S. Capitol police using an X-ray machine
- Incident occurred as public paid respects to former President Jimmy Carter
- Trump expected to visit Capitol to honor Carter and meet Senate Republicans
- Security measures increased ahead of Congress’s vote to certify Trump’s election win
Weapons Detected at Capitol Security Checkpoint
In a startling security incident at the U.S. Capitol, a man was apprehended while attempting to bring a machete and three knives into the Capitol Visitor Center. The weapons were promptly detected by vigilant U.S. Capitol police officers using an X-ray machine at a security checkpoint. This alarming event unfolded just moments before President-elect Donald Trump was scheduled to arrive for a meeting with Senate Republicans.
The individual was immediately taken into custody and charged with carrying a dangerous weapon. Following the arrest, security screening was temporarily halted on the north side of the visitor center but has since resumed normal operations. The swift action of Capitol police underscores the heightened security measures in place, particularly in light of the Congressional vote to certify Trump’s electoral victory.
CBS – USCP arrested a man with a machete and other knives this afternoon at the Capitol Visitor Center ahead of President-elect Trump's visit to Capitol Hill and as the public pays homage to former President Carter, who is lying in state in the Capitol R… https://t.co/76jP4RQBN6
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) January 8, 2025
Trump’s Visit and Honoring Former President Carter
The security breach occurred as the public was visiting the Capitol to pay their respects to former President Jimmy Carter, who is lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda. President-elect Trump joined in honoring Carter’s memory during his visit. Carter, who passed away last month at the age of 100, leaves behind a legacy of service and dedication to the nation.
Despite the security incident, Trump’s scheduled visit to the Capitol proceeded as planned. The President-elect’s dual purpose for the visit – to pay respects to Carter and to meet with Senate Republicans – highlights the continuity of government and the respect for former leaders that transcends party lines.
BREAKING: Police arrest man after attempting to carry machete, 3 knives into US Capitol, hours before Trump arriveshttps://t.co/7KcO9QQTjN
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 8, 2025
Heightened Security Measures
In anticipation of Congress’s vote to certify Trump as the winner of the 2024 Presidential Election, security measures were significantly increased. The effectiveness of these measures was demonstrated by the quick detection and response to the potential threat. The incident has prompted renewed discussions about the balance between public access to government buildings and the need for stringent security protocols.