A 49-year-old Orlando woman was taken into custody on July 7 after she drove to former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and insisted on delivering a personal message to him, despite having no valid driver’s license and allegedly possessing firearms.
Caroline Shaw reportedly approached the entrance to Trump’s Palm Beach club and told U.S. Secret Service agents that she had an “urgent message” for the former president. According to law enforcement documents, she also admitted that there were firearms in her vehicle.
The Palm Beach Police Department, responding to a request for assistance from the Secret Service, confirmed that Shaw was driving on a suspended license and in an unregistered vehicle at the time of the incident. She now faces charges related to both of those offenses.
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Authorities did not disclose the nature of the message Shaw claimed to have for Trump, and no additional threats or harm were reported. Police did, however, treat the situation seriously, citing the proximity to a high-profile location and the involvement of firearms.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officers arrived at the scene after Secret Service personnel flagged Shaw as a suspicious individual. Further inspection of her van confirmed that she was not legally allowed to operate the vehicle and had not registered it properly.
As of now, Shaw does not appear to have legal representation, and USA TODAY was unable to identify an attorney on her behalf.
The incident adds to a growing number of security-related events involving high-profile political figures, and reinforces the intense scrutiny surrounding former President Trump’s Florida residence. No further details have been released regarding the firearms allegedly inside Shaw’s van or whether federal charges might follow.
