A 51-year-old Florida man was arrested after police say he trespassed onto a yacht docked along the Miami River and refused to leave, telling officers he was holding the vessel for his “friend,” President Donald Trump, as reported [1] by the New York Post.
According to the City of Miami Police Department, officers responded to a call from the yacht’s owner reporting that an unknown man had boarded the vessel and was behaving in a threatening manner.
Body camera footage released Thursday shows the suspect, identified as Terry Eugene Roberts Jr., sitting on the yacht while eating snacks and drinking a beverage.
— Ron Skonie (@reskonie) May 1, 2026 [3]
When officers asked Roberts what he was doing on the vessel, he told them he was “holding it for a friend,” according to the footage.
“This boat belongs to Donald Trump. You need to call him,” Roberts told the officers.
Police asked Roberts to step off the yacht so they could verify his claims, but he refused to comply.
“I don’t have to [go],” Roberts said. “I’m a veteran of the United States Army, and I’m here to protect Donald Trump.”
He continued, “I’m a part of the Hell’s Angels, which protects the United States government, and I protect the president as well,” while remaining seated and putting on his shoes.
Due to his refusal to leave the vessel, officers requested assistance from the department’s marine unit. Additional officers boarded the yacht and ordered Roberts to stand up and come with them. Body camera footage shows officers pointing Tasers at Roberts as they repeated their commands.
Roberts again refused, stating that only President Trump could authorize his removal from the yacht. Officers then placed him in handcuffs and took him into custody.
According to a police report obtained by The Post, Roberts told officers he believed he was responsible for protecting multiple yachts in the area. Authorities also reported that Roberts caused damage to a bedroom door on the vessel, with repair costs estimated at $3,000. The report stated that the yacht’s keys were found in his pockets.
Roberts was charged with criminal mischief, trespassing, petty theft, and resisting an officer without violence. Police also confirmed that he had been wanted in connection with an alleged motorcycle theft two days prior to the incident.
“BELONGS TO DONALD TRUMP”: A Florida man was taken into custody after he trespassed on a stranger’s yacht, saying he was holding it for President Donald Trump, according to body camera footage. https://t.co/lFeufpLAQb [4] pic.twitter.com/JLCbx6uTSz [5]
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) April 30, 2026 [6]
The encounter, which took place on the Miami River, was captured on police body camera video and later released by the department. The footage shows the exchange between Roberts and responding officers as they attempted to remove him from the privately owned vessel.
Authorities did not release additional details about the yacht owner or whether any further charges may be filed.