A federal jury convicted Trent Schneider, a 58-year-old resident of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, on March 26 of making a true threat in interstate commerce to injure multiple public officials, including former President Donald J. Trump. The verdict followed a three-day trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Schneider faces up to five years in federal prison; his sentencing date has not yet been set.
The case centers on an incident from October 21, 2025, when Schneider posted a video on Instagram threatening judges, doctors, lawyers, police officers and specifically targeting Trump by name. In the video he said: “People like me have suffered real [expletive] crimes from [expletive] judges, doctors, lawyers, police. They all should be killed. All of them should be executed for what they’ve done . . . I’m going to get some guns. I know where I can get a lot of [expletive] guns and I am going to take care of business myself. I’m tired of all you [expletive] frauds. People need to [expletive] die and people are going to die.[Expletive] all of you, especially you Trump. You should be executed.” The post also included the caption: “THIS IS NOT A THREAT!!! AFTER LOSING EVERYTHING and My House Auction date is 11.04.2025 @realDonaldTrump SHOULD BE EXECUTED!!!”
On the same day as the Instagram post, Schneider appeared at the Lake County courthouse regarding his foreclosure case and told the presiding judge that he would burn down the courthouse.
Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois announced the conviction along with Dai Tran, Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC) of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office.
“Let this conviction send a clear message that it is never acceptable to threaten a political figure or a member of the judiciary,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.“Political violence is not only intolerable but it is a serious crime.Working closely with our law enforcement partners,the Chicago U.S.Attorney’s Office will find ,arrest,and prosecute to the fullest extent of law those responsible for criminally threatening safety our elected officials and judges.”
SAC Tran said,“Threats political violence are not joke.They are federal crime.The U.S.Secret Service vigorously pursues all threats harm President United States.I am proud our agents’ work this case thank partners at Lake County Sheriff’s Office Winthrop Harbor Police Department their assistance bringing defendant justice.I also want thank U.S.Attorney’s Office Northern District Illinois prosecuting this case its conclusion.”
The broader implications underscore ongoing concerns about threats against public officials and efforts by law enforcement agencies to address such actions.
