Illinois man faces federal charges for Trump execution threats on Instagram

An Illinois man called for the execution of President Donald Trump in a series of profanity-laced Instagram videos, federal agents said, prompting a Secret Service investigation that led to a federal charge of making interstate threats to kill public officials.

A criminal complaint filed Oct. 31 in the Northern District of Illinois and unsealed Monday morning charged Trent Schneider, 57, of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, for allegedly making an actual threat to injure another person in interstate commerce.

Schneider allegedly posted violent videos and memes on social media calling for Trump’s execution as his home approached foreclosure.

In a video posted on October 16, he allegedly looked directly into the camera and railed against judges, doctors, lawyers and police, saying: “People like me have been subjected to some real fucking crimes by the fucking judges, the doctors, the lawyers, the police. They should all be killed. They should all be executed for what they’ve done.”

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“They need to be killed. They need to be executed, okay? These are crooks, okay? I think it’s time. I’ve waited long enough,” he allegedly continued. “I’m going to buy some guns. I know where to get a bunch of guns, and I’ll take care of things myself. I’m tired of your scams. People need to die, and people will die. Damn all of you, especially you, Trump. You should be executed.”

Prosecutors allege Schneider reposted the same video about 20 times over several days, often tagging Trump Tower Chicago. Each post had the same headline: “THIS IS NOT A THREAT!!! … AFTER I LOST EVERYTHING and My House Auction date 4/11/2025 @realDonaldTrump SHOULD BE EXECUTED!!!”

A viewer in Florida allegedly saw one of the videos and reported it to authorities, according to court documents. That tip led the U.S. Secret Service to begin investigating Schneider and identify his Instagram account, which agents said posted threats that could be viewed nationwide.

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Agents went to Schneider’s home in Winthrop Harbor on Oct. 22 to question him, according to the affidavit. When they arrived, they allegedly saw cameras placed on tripods in the driveway.

Schneider walked outside, yelled at officers to get off his property, and later released a video of them walking away; There was also a call for Trump’s execution in the same title.

Law enforcement had encountered Schneider before, according to the complaint. In 2022, agents interviewed him for violent social media posts targeting public officials, and later that year he was arrested for allegedly threatening to “shoot up” a T-Mobile store. The court ruled he was unfit to stand trial in 2023, according to the complaint.

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Trent Schneider, 57, of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, was arrested at his home Monday after federal agents alleged he posted a series of profane social media videos calling for the execution of President Donald Trump. (iStock)

The complaint alleges that Schneider’s anger is related to a foreclosure on his home, which is scheduled to be auctioned on Nov. 4.

It was claimed that he talked about “losing everything” in his posts and blamed political and legal figures, whom he called “fraud”, for his financial collapse.

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CBS News in Chicago reported that the Secret Service requested assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in executing search and arrest warrants at Schneider’s home on Monday. A SWAT team helped take Schneider into custody and he was arrested without incident, the source said.

If convicted, Schneider faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.