Sword-wielding Massachusetts man arrested over threats to Trump, FBI says

Andrew Emerald, 45, was charged with making threats on Facebook to kill the president.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:19pm

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A Massachusetts man has been arrested and charged with making threats on Facebook to kill U.S. President Donald Trump. Andrew Emerald, 45, allegedly made a series of threatening social media posts, including one where he vowed to travel to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort if the president was not dead by 2026. When the FBI went to arrest Emerald at his home, he refused to come out and eventually stepped into view brandishing a long, metallic sword.

Why it matters

The case highlights the growing issue of online threats against public officials and the challenges law enforcement faces in responding to them. Threats of violence against the president are taken extremely seriously, and this arrest underscores the FBI's efforts to identify and apprehend individuals who make such threats.

The details

According to the indictment, Emerald made a series of threatening Facebook posts over the past year, including one where he wrote: "Either Trump is dead and in the ground by 2026 or I am hunting him down and putting him there." When the FBI went to arrest Emerald at his home in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, he refused to come out and eventually stepped into view holding a long, metallic sword. After a standoff, Emerald was arrested following a phone call with a police officer.

  • In May 2025, Emerald allegedly made a Facebook post threatening to kill Trump by 2026.
  • In July 2025, Emerald allegedly referenced his sword in a Facebook post threatening Trump.
  • On April 1, 2026, the FBI arrested Emerald at his home in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

The players

Andrew Emerald

A 45-year-old Massachusetts resident who was arrested and charged with making threats on Facebook to kill President Donald Trump.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who was the target of Emerald's alleged threats.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The federal law enforcement agency that investigated Emerald's threats and arrested him at his home.

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What they’re saying

“Either Trump is dead and in the ground by 2026 or I am hunting him down and putting him there.”

— Andrew Emerald

“I'll kill them until they kill me.”

— Andrew Emerald

What’s next

Emerald is scheduled to have a detention hearing on Monday to determine if he will be held without bail pending trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing problem of online threats against public officials and the need for law enforcement to take such threats seriously. It also raises questions about the role of social media platforms in monitoring and addressing violent rhetoric.