Pennsylvania Man Charged with Making Assassination Threats Against Trump, Elon Musk, and Federal Agents
BUTLER, PA — April 11, 2025 —
Federal authorities have arrested a 32-year-old man from Butler, Pennsylvania, in connection with a string of online threats made against former President Donald Trump, entrepreneur Elon Musk, and federal law enforcement personnel. The arrest, announced by the Department of Justice on Friday, marks a serious escalation in domestic threats toward public officials and comes just months after a near-fatal attempt on Trump’s life during a campaign rally in the same city.
DOJ Charges Shawn Monper in Federal Complaint
The suspect, Shawn Monper, was taken into custody by the FBI and local law enforcement earlier this week. A federal criminal complaint has been filed against him for making threats to assault and murder a former president, high-profile private citizens, and government officials, including agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Department of Justice identified Monper as the individual behind a YouTube account named “Mr Satan,” which was used to issue threatening remarks between January 15 and April 5, 2025. Federal investigators confirmed that the threats originated from Monper’s residence and were distributed widely online.
Monper had reportedly obtained a firearms permit shortly after President Trump’s January inauguration.
Four Documented Threats
According to the criminal complaint, the following threats were posted by Monper using the “Mr Satan” account:
- February 17, 2025:
“Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way… American Revolution 2.0.” - March 4, 2025:
“I’m going to assassinate him myself,” referencing Trump during a live YouTube stream titled “Trump’s address to Congress.” - March 18, 2025:
“ICE are terrorist people, we need to start killing them.” - April 1, 2025:
“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 Responds
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a strong statement following the announcement of Monper’s arrest:
“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,” Bondi said.
“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.”
A City Still Reeling
The case has struck a particularly raw nerve in Butler, Pennsylvania, where just nine months ago, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt during a rally. The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was later revealed to be a political donor affiliated with Democratic causes.
The chilling proximity of Monper’s threats to that prior attack has once again brought national attention to Butler and prompted renewed calls for heightened security for elected officials and federal agents.
Ongoing Investigation
The DOJ confirmed that the FBI’s National Threat Operations Section (NTOS) had been monitoring the situation since April 8 and acted swiftly once Monper’s location and identity were confirmed. Additional charges could follow as the investigation continues.
Monper is expected to appear in federal court in the coming days.
This story is developing. Further updates will follow as additional details are released.