US Man Arrested for Facebook Death Threats Against Former President Donald Trump
An American man has been taken into custody by authorities for allegedly making online threats to assassinate former United States President Donald Trump. Andrew Emerald, aged 45, is accused of posting eight menacing messages on the social media platform Facebook last year, in which he threatened to injure and kill Trump.
Explicit Threats and Violent Intent
According to a press release from the Department of Justice, Emerald wrote in one post in May 2025, "Either Trump is dead and in the ground by 2026, or I am hunting him down and putting him there." This threat comes after Trump was grazed by a bullet during an assassination attempt in 2024 while campaigning for the presidency.
In another expletive-laden post later that same month, Emerald apparently threatened to attack Trump's resort in Florida, stating, "I'll make sure you're at Mar-a-Lago when I burn it to the f****** ground." The FBI court filing detailed that Emerald also posted about planning to go to Washington, D.C., with his sword to kill Trump and as many of his supporters as possible.
Arrest and Confrontation with Authorities
When law enforcement executed an arrest warrant at Emerald's home in Massachusetts, he reportedly refused to come outside and appeared to brandish a long metal sword, telling agents they would have to shoot him. After intervention by a crisis negotiator and a local police officer, Emerald eventually left the residence peacefully.
The FBI shared pictures on Wednesday of several swords and blades found inside Emerald's home, further highlighting the potential danger. Emerald was arrested after being indicted on March 19 on eight counts of interstate transmission of threatening communications, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
Previous Investigations and Similar Cases
Authorities had previously questioned Emerald in 2018, during Trump's first term, over a possible threat to shoot the president. This case is not isolated, as there have been several similar incidents involving social media threats against Trump.
In March, a Virginia man was sentenced to more than two years in prison for sending online threats to kill the US president. Trump also narrowly escaped an attempt on his life in July 2024 when a gunman opened fire at an election campaign rally in Pennsylvania, underscoring the ongoing security concerns.
