Who is Vem Miller, the armed Trump rallygoer accused of planning a third assassination attempt?
The armed rallygoer accused of pđŻlotting a possible third assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump is a self-described MAGA supporter and registered Republican who once tried, but failed, to launch a political career đin Nevada.
Details about Vem Miller’s background are emerging after the 49-year-old was taken into custody on weapons charges after he was stopped at a security checkpoint at Trump’s Coachella Valley rally Saturday.
Local authorities say they believe they thwarted yet another assassination attempt against the Republican presidential nominee after Miller was allegedly busted with loaded firearms, multiđ ple passports and a fake license plate.
But Miller, who has since been released on $5,000 bail, slammed the accusations as âbullsât.â
Here’s what we know so far about Miller in the wake of his arrest:
What is his political affiliation?
Miller, who is a Las Vegas resident, is a registered Republican — and proudly calls himself a supporter “all in” on Trump.
âYes, Iâm 100% ađ Trump supporter,â he told Fox News Digital as he rebutted the claim from authorities that he planned to kill the 45th pręŚ esident.
âThis is a man that I deeply admire.”
After his arrest this weekend, local cops accused Miller of being part of a so-called sovereign citizens movement â a far-right collective built on conspiracy theories that say governments have no authority oveâr them.
Miller denied that in interviews, even telling Fox News he doesn’t “think thereâs such a thing.â
âGovernment is an inanimate object, itâs the individuals within government that matter, đso no, Iâm not a part of any of that,â Millerꌺ said.
âTheyâre saying that Iâm part of these right-wing anti-government groups? Why arenât they naming these groups? Because it doesnât exist.”
What is his background?
Miller is a film andđ° TV industry professional who has long railed against the US government and mainstream media, according to his .
âFor 20 years +, I have been working in the media as an investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and a content producer ⌠I have seen our rights be taken, while the power of big government grows,” his bio on the work-focused site states.
“I have seen small businesses and the middle class be squashed. I have seen unlawful mandates and politicians acting like dictators. I have also seen how the power of the money flows through politics and a political class that no longer works for We The People.â
In 2022, he created the American Happens Network — with the motto âRage against the mainstream mediaâ — which plays host to his politically aligned podcast called “Blood Money.”
The podcast focuses on âcorruption, controversy and conspiracy — topics the Mainstream media will not touch,â according to its website.
Miller also holds a bachelorâs degree from the University of California, Los AngelesđĽ, in English and creative writing,đ his LinkedIn shows.
His failed political bid
Miller ran as a in Nevada in 2022 — but ultimately lost the primary.
At the time, he told the he wđas running for office because âthis country has been taken over byęŚ tyranny.â
He had vowed to focus on alleged voter fraud and would work on strengtheđ°ning voter ID laws and reimplementing paper ballots.
He also told the outlet that he supported increased electric car manufâąacturing in his state, as well as solar energy.
What happened at the Trump rally?
Miller was stopped by sheriff’s deputies at a security checkpoint outside the rally around 5 p.m. local time Saturday, authorities said.
He had allegedly đ˝tried to enter the rally with a phony press pass.
Cops searched his black SUV after realizing theđ vehicle was unregistered and discovered a cache of fake passports and driverâs licenses, along with a shotgunę§, a loaded handgun and a high-capacity magazine, officials said.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said in the aftermath that he âtrulyâ believed his department halted an assassination attempt, though he acknowledged it was “speculation.”
âWhat his frame of mind was, all we can do is speculate,â Bianco said. âIf youâre asking me right now, I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination attempt.”
Neitherâ the Secret Service nor the FBI has said the incident was a planned assassinatiđ¨on attempt.
What was he charged with?
Miller was hit with charges of possession of a loaded đśfirearm and a high-capacity magazine, both misdemeanors.
He was subsequently released on $5,000 bail.&nbâ¤sp;
No federal charges have been filed.
What has the suspect said about the allegations?
A âshockedâ Miller quickly slammed his arrest, as well as the sheriff’s claim he was plotting to assassinate Trump, as “bulls–t.”
âThese accusations are complete bullsât,â Miller told . âIâm an artist, Iâm the last person that would cause ađśny violence and harm to anybody.â
Miller, who insisted he was unaware of the different gun laws between Nevada and California, said he was invited to the rally by the head of the Clark County GOP — and was wearing a Trump shirt and hat when he ran into authorities at the checkpoint.
He claimed in an interview with Fox News that he brought in the weapoâns for personal protection because of death threats heâs received since launching his America Happens Network.
âI always travel around with my firearms in the bacđ k of my truck,ââ he told the outlet, adding that he has âneverâ shot a gun in his life.
Miller also denied the sheriff’s claim he had a stash of fake passports on him.
âNone of those are fake,â he said, adding that he is Armenian and has docęŚuments thađ¸t show his full Armenian name and ones that donât.