Police Arrest Trump Protester Kayaking in Bellagio Fountains

Posted on: February 19, 2025, 02:15h. 

Last updated on: February 19, 2025, 02:35h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.
  • 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.