Washington DC - The Secret Service arrested a man near the White House after finding several firearms in his car, including a rifle, the Department of Homeland Security said on Friday.

The man told officers that voices in his head had instructed him to travel to Washington and kill President Donald Trump, according to the department.

The suspect is from Venezuela and is living in the US without documentation, the department said. 

Officers found three firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition in his car, which had been reported stolen.

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The man faces charges including unlawful transportation and possession of firearms.

He was arrested on Thursday evening on Constitution Avenue, south of the White House, after Secret Service officers noticed him behaving suspiciously in his parked car.

One of the Secret Service's main responsibilities is to protect the president and other senior politicians. The White House is heavily guarded and protected by a tall security fence that extends further than in the past.