Retired professor’s gun seized by Secret Service after expressing wish to ‘shoot the president,’ claims he was referring to camera lens
A retired community college professor came under investigation by the U.S. Secret Service after making remarks during a local government meeting that appeared to reference harming President Donald Trump.
Wesley Arnold, a former professor at Macomb Community College, was questioned by the Secret Service following comments he made at a Warren City Council meeting, according to C&G Newspapers.
The meeting focused on a local Amazon facility that uses drones to deliver packages to residents.
During public comments, Arnold said he had ordered a “high-power ATL 36X,” which he claimed he hoped “to actually use to shoot the president of the United States.” A video recording of the meeting shared by Libs of TikTok shows Arnold adding, “I’m not kidding.”
He went on to say the device was “a very high powerful item” that would be “great for a headshot at a distance,” adding that he didn’t want it delivered by drone because he wouldn’t want such an item “in the wrong hands.”
Arnold later told FOX 2 Detroit that Secret Service agents visited his home after the meeting and confiscated a handgun.
When asked whether he expected to face arrest, Arnold responded, “It may or may not happen. We’ll see.”
He also said he was not particularly worried about being arrested, describing himself as “a harmless old man” who believes in freedom of speech.
During the interview, reporters asked whether he understood that his remarks could be interpreted as threatening. Arnold acknowledged that they had come across that way and admitted that he “blew it.”
Arnold also claimed that the “36X” he mentioned referred to a camera lens rather than a firearm, saying he had “no intent of shooting any public official, except with a telephoto lens.”
However, “36x” is also a common reference to magnified optics often used in long-range shooting, which added to the concern surrounding his remarks—especially given previous attempts on President Trump’s life.
President Trump was wounded in the ear by a sniper during a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Months later, authorities also disrupted another alleged assassination attempt at one of the president’s golf courses.
Warren City Council President Angela Rogensues said Arnold approached her after the meeting to clarify that he meant a camera lens.
“He came up after the meeting to clarify he was referring to a camera lens,” Rogensues said. “I think Mr. Arnold was trying to be a bit cheeky and clever in his rhetoric. He was making a joke. That’s not something to be joking about.”
The Warren Police Department confirmed that it filed a report documenting Arnold’s comments and contacted federal authorities about the matter.
“Threatening to shoot the president is a serious offense and could result in federal charges,” said Warren Police Lt. John Gajewski. “It wasn’t brushed under the rug and not assumed to be a joke. It is very much an open and active investigation.”
Macomb Community College, the Warren City Council, and the Warren Police Department were contacted for additional comment. Updates will be provided if further information becomes available.
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