Florida Man Charged with Threats Against Trump and Officials

A man from Florida has been charged for allegedly posting threats online to assassinate President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to a news release from law enforcement.

Nathaniel Sanders II, a 32-year-old from Miami Beach, appeared in federal court recently. Authorities claim he used social media platforms, including X and Instagram, from January to April 2026 to express various threats against these public figures, as noted in court documents.

He faces charges for threatening the President and for communicating threats across state lines, with potential penalties of up to 10 years in federal prison upon conviction.

The Secret Service’s criminal complaint outlines several incidents where Sanders allegedly issued threats on Instagram. In one post directed at Rubio, he stated, “If you mess with him, he’ll hurt you.”

Sanders also reportedly claimed he would “blow up” the White House, affirming the seriousness of his statement by adding, “I mean it.”

The complaint detailed how, in an April post, Sanders told Trump to “come find me” so that he could “stomp his feet on the ground.” In another instance, he called Trump an “orange pedophile and pervert,” declaring, “I’m going to kill him.”

According to the complaint, the threats were made between January 28 and April 22. After some of these posts emerged, law enforcement attempted to speak with Sanders in February, but he dismissed them as “pedophiles” and avoided discussion.

Sanders often posted videos expressing intense hostility toward Trump and other officials. In one video, he appeared to reach out to First Lady Melania Trump, remarking, “Melania, I don’t know what to do. All I got is a gun. A gun is the only thing I can use right now.”

Despite the alarming threats, there seems to be no indication that Sanders took any steps to execute his threats, as reported by local news.

A bail hearing is on the docket for Thursday, with an arraignment scheduled for May 18. Jason A. Redding Quiñones, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, emphasized that threats against public officials constitute serious federal crimes that jeopardize public safety. He stated, “These charges will now be heard in court.” He also reiterated that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Michael Townsend, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Miami Field Office, remarked that threats against the President are treated with utmost seriousness. He assured that they’d continue their diligent work in investigating threats and protecting public figures.