A 73-year-old California man, Thomas Eugene Streavel, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly making threats against then-President-elect Donald Trump on Facebook before and after the 2024 election. The charges include three counts of making threats against the President-elect, with the indictment focusing on specific posts made in late November 2024, including violent and profanity-laced messages.
According to the indictment, Streavel posted several messages on Facebook threatening Trump as early as October 15, 2024, with one message stating it was the ‘perfect day to blow his brains out,’ referring to Trump, and expressing a desire to be the one to pull the trigger. The threats continued with profanity-laced messages on November 3, 20, 25, and 29, 2024, escalating in intensity and content.
The indictment identifies three specific posts as the basis for the charges: one made on November 12, 2024, in which Streavel wrote, ‘My a – – is willing to make America great again and blow his mother f- – – – — brains out. The piece of s— will never be my president.’ Another post on November 19, 2024, contained a message stating, ‘Let me put a bullet right between the ears of your president-elect that instantly makes AMERICA great again,’ and the third post on November 28, 2024, included a message declaring, ‘I’m praying for a successful assassination of your president-elect that will immediately make America great again for the good of our nation.’ These statements reflect an intent to commit a violent act against Trump.
The U.S. Department of Justice has emphasized the severity of the threats, with Attorney General Pam Bondi stating, ‘This defendant is charged with threatening the life of our President – a man who has already survived two deranged attempts on his life. The Department of Justice takes these threats with the utmost seriousness and will prosecute this crime to the fullest extent of the law.’ U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli further warned that there is ‘no place for political violence or threats of violence in the United States,’ and that legal action will be taken against anyone engaging in similar conduct.
Streavel was arrested and arraigned in Riverside, California, on Tuesday, the day after his arrest, where he was released on a $10,000 bond. He has pleaded not guilty to all three charges and is scheduled to appear in court again on July 28, 2025, for his trial. If convicted, he could face a maximum of five years in federal prison for each of the three charges. The case has drawn attention due to the escalation of threats and the potential for legal action against individuals who seek to use violence to express political views.
While the indictment highlights the specific Facebook posts and their content, the broader implications of the case raise questions about the legal boundaries between free speech and criminal threats. The Department of Justice and federal prosecutors have made clear that such actions, even if motivated by political beliefs, are not acceptable in the United States, and those who threaten the life of a public official will face legal consequences. The case also underscores the growing concern over online threats and the role of social media in facilitating such communication, as well as the challenges law enforcement faces in monitoring and responding to potential acts of violence.