Sai Varshith Kandula, a 20-year-old man from Chesterfield, Missouri, admitted to deliberately crashing a truck near the White House, revealing Nazi leanings and intentions to overthrow the U.S. government.
On May 22, 2023, Sai Varshith Kandula, a 20-year-old man from Chesterfield, Missouri, deliberately crashed a rented box truck into the security barriers near Lafayette Square, adjacent to the White House in Washington, D.C. Kandula, who flew from St. Louis to Washington D.C. earlier that day, also carried Nazi paraphernalia including a large flag with a swastika.
Kandula pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024, to charges related to damaging federal property, admitting his actions were inspired by Nazi ideology with intentions to overthrow the U.S. government and install a dictatorship. Originally, he faced multiple charges, including threats to kill or harm the U.S. president, but as part of a plea agreement, some charges were dropped.
He disclosed that had his attack been successful, he planned to assassinate the U.S. president and establish himself as the leader of the country. Following his arrest, Kandula was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The incident caused over $4,300 in damage to National Park Service property. No one from the White House or the Secret Service was harmed during the attack. Kandula faces up to 10 years in prison and will be sentenced in August. Additionally, he agreed to repay U-Haul more than $52,000 for damages to the rental vehicle, and he faces potential deportation after his prison sentence.
