Armed man arrested near Trump rally member of 'fringe' anti-government group

US authorities say the man arrested near a Donald Trump rally in Coachella in California allegedly carrying loaded guns belongs to a "fringe" anti-government group.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department on Sunday (Monday AEDT) gave an update about the arrest of Vem Miller, the 49-year-old suspect, pulled over in a black SUV at a checkpoint set up by officers assigned to protect the former US president.

He was arrested on Saturday as Trump held a rally in the Coachella Valley.

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Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Miller, from Nevada, was believed to be a member of a "fringe" right-leaning anti-government group and may have planned to kill Trump.

"If he is part of the Sovereign Citizens' Group, they are certainly considered a far-right group," Bianco said.

"I wouldn't, from my own personal belief, I wouldn't say it's a militant group, it's just a group that doesn't believe in government and government control.

"They don't believe that the government and laws apply to them. So, I think it's fringe, one way or the other."

Police allege that they found Miller with several weapons: a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine.

Police also allege they discovered multiple fake IDs, passports that were in different names, driver's licences that were in different names, and also a fake licence plate.

Blanco stressed that Miller has been charged by state authorities with illegal possession of weapons.

He said local law enforcement agencies were working with the FBI and US Secret Service, and any charges over the attempted assassination of Trump would come from federal authorities.

"We certainly are still in contact with Secret Service and the FBI because this is obviously something that occurred that will be continuing to go until we get to the bottom of it, until there's a resolution to the entire thing," Blanco said.

Miller was released on a $US5000 ($7400) bail, according to the Riverside County Inmate Information System.

Police stressed the safety of Trump or rallygoers was never threatened during the arrest.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025, according to online records.

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