Man Arrested for Threatening President Trump

A 73-year-old man from Southern California has been taken into custody for allegedly making threats against President Donald Trump via social media. The suspect, Thomas Eugene Striebel, reportedly posted these threats ahead of the 2024 presidential election, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California.

In one of his posts, Striebel suggested a violent act against the president, stating, “Let’s put a bullet between our presidential election ears… that’s the purpose of my life.”

Residing in Yucca Valley, within San Bernardino County, he faces three counts related to threatening Trump’s life. One notable threat was recorded on November 6, the day after the election, where he declared, “[T]Lamp is a dead man walking for a while until a patriot like me blows him [expletive]. I will put my head out in the very near future,” indicating a willingness to commit violence.

Subsequent messages followed, with one reading, “Let’s put a bullet between my ears in the presidential election… that’s the purpose of my life,” and another expressing hope that Trump’s assassination would be successful.

Attorney General Pam Bondy commented on the seriousness of the situation, highlighting that the defendant is charged with threatening the life of a man who has already survived previous assassination attempts. She stated, “The Department of Justice will prosecute this crime to the fullest extent of the law.”

Striebel was indicted on May 29, but the specifics of the charges remained sealed until June 3. He entered a not guilty plea and was released on a $10,000 bail, with a trial date set for July 28. If found guilty, he could face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.

Federal prosecutors emphasized that there’s no place in the U.S. for such threats, asserting their commitment to holding individuals accountable for political violence.