Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Kill President, Federal Officials

Shawn Monper faces up to 20 years in prison for online death threats against Trump, ICE agents, and other government figures.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:37pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a handgun magazine loaded with ammunition, the metal and bullets sharply illuminated against a pitch-black background, conveying the serious and investigative nature of this crime.A stark, gritty image of the tools used to threaten public officials underscores the gravity of this case.Today in Pittsburgh

A 33-year-old Pittsburgh-area man named Shawn Monper has pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening to assault and murder United States officials and federal law enforcement officers, including President Trump, other government figures, and ICE agents. Monper made the threats on YouTube under the username 'Mr. Satan' between January and April 2025, stating he had purchased guns and body armor since Trump's inauguration and was planning a 'mass shooting.' Monper was arrested in April 2025 and has been detained since then.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing threat of online extremism and the potential for violence against government officials and law enforcement. It also comes in the wake of a previous assassination attempt on President Trump in Butler County, Pennsylvania during the 2024 campaign, raising concerns about the security of public officials.

The details

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the FBI's National Threat Operations Section received an emergency disclosure in April 2025 about threats posted to YouTube by a user calling himself 'Mr. Satan.' Investigators traced the account to Monper's residence in Butler, Pennsylvania. They found that Monper had obtained a firearms permit shortly after Trump's inauguration in January 2025 and had made numerous threatening statements, including 'I have bought several guns and been stocking up on ammo since Trump got in office,' 'Eventually I'm going to do a mass shooting,' and 'Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way...'

  • In April 2025, the FBI received an emergency disclosure about the threats.
  • In February 2025, Monper commented about buying guns and ammo since Trump's inauguration.
  • In March 2025, Monper posted about planning a 'mass shooting' and continued buying guns.
  • In mid-March 2025, Monper posted 'ICE are terrorist people, we need to start killing them.'

The players

Shawn Monper

A 33-year-old Pittsburgh-area man who pleaded guilty to making online threats to kill President Trump, other federal officials, and ICE agents.

Troy Rivetti

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania who announced Monper's guilty plea.

President Trump

The President of the United States who was targeted in Monper's threats.

ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose agents were also threatened by Monper.

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What they’re saying

“Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way...”

— Shawn Monper

“ICE are terrorist people, we need to start killing them.”

— Shawn Monper

What’s next

Monper will be sentenced in August and faces up to 20 years in prison.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing threat of online extremism and the need for vigilance in protecting public officials from violence, especially in the wake of previous assassination attempts on the President. It also raises concerns about the security of government figures and law enforcement in the current political climate.