Federal charges have been filed against three University of South Alabama students accused of making threats against President Donald Trump on social media in the days leading up to his rally on the Mobile campus. The arrests and unsealing of the federal cases occurred Friday afternoon, just hours before Trump was scheduled to speak at the university’s Mitchell Center. Investigators reportedly discovered the posts during social media intelligence searches conducted in anticipation of the president’s visit, utilizing emergency disclosure requests and information from the University of South Alabama police to identify the students, according to FBI affidavits. One student allegedly posted a threatening remark towards Trump on a TikTok video discussing the president’s visit, while another reportedly posted on X, referencing the University of South Alabama in a manner that evoked the 2023 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. A third student is also alleged to have made a comment on a TikTok post concerning Trump’s appearance. The Mobile County Sheriff’s office confirmed its assistance to federal authorities in monitoring social media activity related to the event. The University of South Alabama issued a statement condemning threats while emphasizing the distinction between free expression and unlawful conduct, noting the rally was not university-sponsored but rather a rental of the Mitchell Center by the Republican National Committee.
Three University of South Alabama Students Face Federal Charges for Alleged Threats Against President Trump Ahead of Campus Rally
