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West Palm Jury Acquits Man of Threatening Trump on Facebook
Jurors found Shannon Atkins not guilty of making online threats against the former president.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:00am
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A 47-year-old West Palm Beach man named Shannon Atkins was acquitted by a jury on March 24 of a charge that he made written or electronic threats to kill or harm former President Donald Trump. The jury determined that Atkins' social media comments about Trump did not rise to the level of criminal threats.
Why it matters
This case highlights the challenges in prosecuting online speech as criminal threats, as the line between protected political rhetoric and unprotected threats can be blurry. The verdict also reflects the continued political polarization in the U.S. around the Trump presidency.
The details
Atkins was charged after posting comments on Facebook that included the phrase "Unfortunately one is still alive" in reference to Trump. Prosecutors argued this amounted to a criminal threat, but the jury ultimately sided with the defense that the comments were protected political speech and did not rise to the level of an actual threat of violence.
- The jury acquitted Atkins on March 24, 2026.
- Atkins was charged after making the Facebook comments at an unspecified time prior to the trial.
The players
Shannon Atkins
A 47-year-old West Palm Beach resident who was acquitted by a jury of making online threats against former President Donald Trump.
Donald Trump
The former President of the United States whose social media comments were the subject of the criminal case against Atkins.
What they’re saying
“Unfortunately one is still alive”
— Shannon Atkins
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing debate over the limits of free speech, especially when it comes to political rhetoric on social media. The verdict suggests jurors are hesitant to equate controversial online comments with criminal threats, even in highly polarized political times.
