BUTLER, Pa. — The FBI arrested 32-year-old Shawn Monper in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Friday for allegedly threatening to assassinate President Trump, authorities confirmed. The threats, made under the YouTube username “Mr Satan,” come nearly a year after Trump survived an assassination attempt in the same town during a July 2024 rally.
Monper was taken into custody in a residential area, with FBI agents in tactical gear escorting him into an armored vehicle, as captured in images from the scene. The 2024 Butler incident saw Thomas Matthew Crooks fire at Trump, grazing his ear and killing a spectator before being neutralized by the Secret Service. That event, which led to the Secret Service director’s resignation, exposed security gaps, heightening vigilance for threats against Trump.
The FBI likely traced Monper through digital forensics, identifying his YouTube activity. Threatening the president, a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 871, carries up to five years in prison. Monper’s motives remain unclear, but the 2024 attempt involved mixed ideologies, suggesting complex drivers of political violence. This arrest follows another threat against Trump in September 2024 at his Florida golf course, underscoring ongoing risks.
Butler, a small town of 13,000, is still healing from last year’s trauma. The new incident may deepen community fears, with the heavy FBI presence signaling the threat’s severity. It comes amid national tensions, including Trump’s 104% tariffs on Chinese imports, the Space Force firing of Colonel Susan Meyers, and the arrest of former Boston Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson for wire fraud, reflecting a volatile political climate.
The FBI’s swift action shows increased monitoring of online threats, but the case may spark debates over free speech and security. As Butler grapples with its renewed spotlight, the incident highlights the persistent challenge of political violence in a divided nation.
