Police Arrest Trump Protester Kayaking in Bellagio Fountains

  • Las Vegas police arrested a man for paddling a kayak in the Bellagio fountains
  • The man was taking part in an anti-Trump protest

A man protesting the Trump administration was arrested by Las Vegas police Monday after paddling a kayak in the Bellagio fountains, according to the arrest report obtained by KLAS-TV/Las Vegas, which broke the story.

Protestors gather in front of the Bellagio fountains on Monday, February 18. (Image: KSNV-TV/Las Vegas)

The man, Trenton Barnes, was booked on charges including trespassing and disorderly conduct, according to the report.

Barnes was spotted kayaking in Lake Bellagio around 5 p.m., according to the arrest report, which noted that Bellagio staff tried repeatedly to remove him from the water.

Eventually, he paddled to an embankment, where he was taken into custody. Since the charges were all misdemeanors, a judge released Barnes without requiring him to post bond.

Barnes’ stunt took place during the “Not My President’s Day” rallies staged across the US, which were part of a movement called 50-50-1 (50 states, 50 protests, one movement).

Holding signs reading “Immigrants Make America Great,” “Elon Must Go” and “The Only Minority Running the Country is the Rich,” the protestors chanted “No Trump, no KKK, no Fascist USA.” Barnes held a sign, too, though KLAS didn’t report on what it read.

MGM Resorts, which owns the Bellagio, prohibits anyone from entering the fountains for a number of reasons, the most obvious being that people can easily be injured by the high-pressure water jets that shoot water up to 460 feet in the air.

Earlier Protests

Earlier this month, an anti-Trump protest in East Las Vegas turned violent as rocks and bottles were hurled, and one protestor even aimed a gun at police. Five arrests were made.

Several other more peaceful protests took place around Las Vegas since Trump’s inauguration. Two were staged at the Trump International Hotel, where around 200 rallied on January 29 to protest the president’s immigration policy.

In January, Trump visited Las Vegas and stayed at his Trump International Hotel. He appeared at the Circa where he spoke to more than 1,000 enthusiastic supporters about his pledge to eliminate taxes on tips. He also thanked Nevada residents for their votes in the recent election.

Corey Levitan joined Casino.org in 2022 after a long career covering Las Vegas. He currently covers entertainment, dining and gaming news in Las Vegas.

Corey spent six years covering the Vegas Strip for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, where he also wrote the most popular humor column in the city’s history. (For “Fear and Loafing,” he tried out 176 Vegas jobs, including poker player, blackjack dealer and Follie Bergere dancer.)

Corey has won more than 100 local, state and national awards for his journalism, which has also appeared in Rolling Stone, New York Magazine and the New York Post.

Corey is a New York native whose hobbies include playing guitar, trying to be a better husband, and arguing with strangers on Facebook.

Contact Corey at corey@casino.org.

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  • R
    Rb February 19, 2025
    False statement, the kayaker was not part of the protest.
    Reply
  • V
    VIGI February 19, 2025
    please do research before publishing something, he was promoting a memecoin called $vigi
    Reply
  • HR
    Harry Richards February 19, 2025
    No he was not protesting. He was marketing his crypto coin. He is the same guy that climbed the Hollywood Hills sign. He marketing his… No he was not protesting. He was marketing his crypto coin. He is the same guy that climbed the Hollywood Hills sign. He marketing his $vigi token. You think because he was in front of protesters that he was protesting. Please correct your statement.
    Reply
  • K
    kevon February 19, 2025
    False! He was advertising a movement called Vigi token #Vigi @Vigilante
    Reply
  • C
    Cryptomaniac February 19, 2025
    This was the developer of the cryptocurrency $VIGI and was promoting his coin. Same guy who cooked the Hollywood sign the other day
    Reply
  • AD
    Ava Dora February 19, 2025
    Please research what you write and watch the video. The person in the Kajak held a sign for Vigilante - $Vigi. A crypto coin. Nothing… Please research what you write and watch the video. The person in the Kajak held a sign for Vigilante - $Vigi. A crypto coin. Nothing to do with Trump whatsoever. Watch the video. Stay tuned, next stunt in under 2 hours! Last one was on Hollywood sign!! #Vigilante
    Reply
  • K
    Khach February 19, 2025
    Wrong, he was advertising $Vigi token on Solana. Not protesting Trump.
    Reply
  • V
    VIGI February 19, 2025
    He wasn't protesting trump he was advertising a crypto currency call $vigi
    Reply

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