Chinese national arrested after attempting to enter Mar-a-Lago

A Chinese national who tried to enter Mar-a-Lago, President-elect Trump's Florida residence, several times in recent months was arrested Thursday, authorities said.

According to an affidavit, it was one of several attempts by 39-year-old Zijie Li to enter the Palm Beach club to speak with Trump.

He faces a second trespassing charge after receiving a warning, in addition to a pending charge he received in July. He is being held at the Palm Beach County Main Jail on $100,000 bail, according to jail records.

KAMALA HARRIS' BOGGLED RESPONSE TO “THE VIEW” OF BIDEN IS SEEN AS A TURNING POINT IN THE CAMPAIGN

“The Palm Beach Police Department, in discussions with the U.S. Secret Service, believes that another incident involving Li may occur due to Li's increasing attempts to enter Mar-a-Lago and contact the President-elect. “in need to utilize escalation in enforcement,” an official wrote in the affidavit.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Palm Beach Police Department. The secret service referred questions to the police.

According to an affidavit, Li first attempted to enter Mar-a-Lago on July 19, six days after the first assassination attempt on Trump. Security measures around the club were increased following the assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Li allegedly entered Mar-a-Lago through the main gate and was stopped by Secret Service.

Iran 'scared' of Trump presidency as Iranian currency falls to all-time low

A U.S. Coast Guard boat patrols in front of the Mar-a-Lago Club across from West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 8, 2024. US President-elect Donald Trump remains out of the public eye after his 2024 election victory. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

He told a Secret Service agent that he had information suggesting China was involved in the first assassination attempt against Trump and that he wanted to leave documents with them.

Local police gave him a trespassing warning. Trump was not home at the time and was in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention.

Li visited Palm Beach at least four more times after the incident and drove to the northern checkpoint but did not attempt to enter Mar-a-Lago, the affidavit said. On July 22, city security camera footage showed him driving east and then west across the Royal Park Bridge twice, first in the morning and then in the afternoon, an arrest report said.

Trump was at Mar-a-Lago that day after returning from Wisconsin. On July 30, Li was in Palm Beach posting documents about Trump on vehicles.

Li was arrested the next day for alleged trespassing at Mar-a-Lago. As a condition of his bond, Li was ordered to stay 500 feet from the club.

On Oct. 30, Li asked a resident who lives near the club to help him enter, police said. Li allegedly asked the resident if they were members of Mar-a-Lago and if she would drive him to the property, authorities said.

Former President Trump arrives at a campaign rally at Lancaster Airport in Lititz, Pennsylvania on Sunday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The resident called the police and identified Li. He had been “Baker Acting” for about a week. Florida's Baker Act allows temporary detention for mental health reasons.

Li was released Thursday and returned to Mar-a-Lago around 5 p.m. before being arrested. A deputy prosecutor told WPTV that Li was in the U.S. from California on a student visa.

Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report.