Federal authorities have charged a man with making online threats to assassinate President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk.
The Context
Trump, who survived multiple assassination attempts during the 2024 presidential campaign, has received numerous death threats. The failed attempts against his life prompted a heightening of his Secret Service protection, which the agency said following November’s election would “be maintained moving forward.”
Musk has likewise received threats. The Tesla CEO, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency and has overseen budget cuts and mass layoffs in the federal government, has been the subject of widespread protests in recent months.
What To Know
Shawn Monper, 32, was detained and charged with four counts of “making threats to assault and murder” against Trump, Musk and other government officials, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, the Department of Justice said on Friday.
The agency said in statement that the FBI had received an urgent alert about threats posted on YouTube by a user identifying as “Mr. Satan.” Investigators traced the online activity back to Monper’s residence.
According to the Justice Department, shortly after Trump’s inauguration on January 20, Monper obtained a firearms permit and commented on his YouTube account that he had “bought several guns and been stocking up on ammo since Trump got in office.”
Matt Rourke/AP
On February 17, the agency said, Monper wrote, “Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way.”
He added, according to the Justice Department: “Remember, we are the majority, MAGA is a minority of the country, and by the time its time to make the move, they will be weakened, many will be crushed by these policies, and they will want revenge too. American Revolution 2.0.”
On March 4, Monper allegedly doubled down during a YouTube livestream titled “Live: Trump’s address to Congress,” saying he was “going to assassinate him myself.” He also commented, “Eventually im going to do a mass shooting,” the agency said.
Monper is also alleged to have made threats against immigration agents, writing: “If I see an armed ice agent, I will consider it a domestic terrorist, and an active shooter and open fire on them.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement that her department would “seek the maximum appropriate punishment.”
Monper is from Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was almost assassinated during a campaign rally in July.
During the incident, a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop. He killed one attendee, injured several others and narrowly missed Trump, who was quickly rushed offstage by Secret Service agents.
One of the bullets grazed Trump’s right ear, causing visible bleeding. Officials later said the bullet missed a fatal hit by mere inches.
In September, Trump survived another assassination attempt. A man armed with a handgun attempted to breach the perimeter of the Trump International Golf Club in Florida while the Republican was on the premises, prompting a swift response from the Secret Service.
The suspect was intercepted before reaching the main building and taken into custody without shots being fired. Authorities later confirmed that the individual had expressed intent to harm the president, marking it as a credible assassination attempt.
What People Are Saying
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement: “I want to applaud the outstanding and courageous investigative work of the FBI and the Butler Township Police Department, who thankfully identified and apprehended this individual before he could carry out his threats against President Trump’s life and the lives of other innocent Americans.
“Rest assured that whenever and wherever threats of assassination or mass violence occur, this Department of Justice will find, arrest, and prosecute the suspect to the fullest extent of the law and seek the maximum appropriate punishment.”
What Happens Next
Monper, who has not yet entered a plea, is being held in custody until his detention hearing on April 14.