Former Coast Guard Officer Arrested for Threatening President Trump
A former Coast Guard officer has been taken into custody after allegedly expressing a desire to assassinate President Donald Trump on social media, according to court documents.
Peter Stinson, who hails from Oakton, Virginia, was arrested on Monday for making credible threats against the president. The court filings indicate that he had a troubling obsession with the idea of Trump’s death.
Stinson served in the Coast Guard from 1988 until 2021, achieving the rank of middle lieutenant and earning accolades for his shooting proficiency. He also received training in the FEMA Incident Command System, which is intended to help first responders in emergencies.
Since at least April 2020, Stinson has reportedly been making alarming posts on social media about the necessity of killing Trump. A few of his statements included:
- “Orange has to go. No matter what sacrifice.”
- “Someone should do more than sue Orange midfielder A**, it includes a rifle and scope, but we can’t talk about it here.”
- “Yes, I’ll pull the trigger. What about you?” in response to a discussion about Trump and his supporters.
- “If we’re planning on murder, I would suggest an orange one.”
In July 2024, following an incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, Stinson allegedly remarked, “Three inches to the right, and shot passed through his eyeballs. Practice. Practice. Practice. And die in the process.” He seemed to express a desire to refine his skills for carrying out his violent thoughts.
Not only did he contemplate gun violence, but Stinson also mentioned scenarios involving Trump’s car and even knives. In one of his posts, he apparently stated, “IDES in March can’t get here fast enough.”
“This is war. The sides are drawn. Antifa always wins in the end. Violence is essentially necessary,” he declared in another post.
Stinson has also allegedly made references to Luigi Mangione, an infamous murder suspect tied to the killing of a healthcare executive, suggesting that Trump “should give Louisie” in a post from March.
Additionally, it appears Stinson has identified himself with Antifa, featuring “#antifa” in his X profile and “Virginia Antifa” on his bluesky profile.
Stinson has been noticed for participating in a YouTube interview titled “The Mayday Movement – An Interview with Peter Stinson,” where he expressed a desire for Trump’s removal from office, though he refrained from explicitly calling for violence.
“I first pledged my oath to the Constitution 45 years ago,” he stated in the interview, adding, “Until recently, I always thought, ‘I swear to protect the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic,’ but I thought it was more like a metaphor.”
In a statement on Facebook, the Mayday Movement USA expressed skepticism about the charges against Stinson, suggesting they are exaggerated. The group insisted that Peter has always been clear that his preferred solution to Trump’s actions is constitutional.
According to reports, Stinson will remain in custody pending a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, as he failed to appear for a petition regarding the accusations.
