A Chinese national has been arrested for trying to enter Donald Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. Zijie Li, who lives in California, later claimed he had possession of documents that proved the Chinese government had organized the assassination attempt on the former President in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July.
Local media reports indicate that Li attempted to drive his Toyota Prius onto Mar-a-Lago grounds on July 18 but was prevented by Secret Service agents. He told the agents that he wanted Mr. Trump to see the documented evidence he had implicating China in the Pennsylvania shooting, but the Secret Service refused to take the documents and ordered him to leave.
Palm Beach police attended the scene and gave the attempted intruder a trespass warning, but he turned up again on July 30. On his way to Trump’s estate, Li reportedly disrupted traffic and was approached by a police officer who noted that his GPS was set for Mar-a-Lago. The officer reminded the intruder of the trespass warning and sent him on his way, but he returned yet again an hour later, where Secret Service agents intercepted him.
Police say Mr. Li made yet more attempts to approach Trump’s property before he was finally arrested. The former President was not at the estate at the time. Security was beefed up at Mar-a-Lago following the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
Zijie Li is one of several Chinese individuals who have attempted to gain access to Mar-a-Lago. Jing Lu was arrested for trespassing in December 2019, and in 2021, a businesswoman was deported after serving an eight-month sentence for unlawfully entering the grounds of the West Palm Beach resort.
Yujing Zhang left jail and was immediately detained at the Glades County Detention Center, where she remained for two years before finally being sent back to China. The coronavirus pandemic and associated lockdowns delayed the deportation, and during the time she was held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, she filed a habeas corpus petition to expedite her removal from the United States.
Subsequent reports indicated that Zhang was fixated on Donald Trump and dreamed of emulating his billionaire lifestyle.
