A Butler, Pennsylvania man who vowed online to assassinate President Trump himself now faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal death threats.
Story Highlights
- Shawn Monper, 32, from Butler posted explicit threats to kill Trump, ICE agents, and others on YouTube as “Mr Satan” from January to April 2025.
- Threats followed Trump’s second inauguration, targeting policies like ICE enforcement and boasting of guns, ammo, and body armor acquisition.
- FBI swiftly investigated, arrested Monper on April 9, 2025; he pleaded guilty this week to two counts of threatening U.S. officials.
- Butler links to 2024 Trump rally assassination attempt, underscoring persistent threats against the President in this high-profile location.
- Sentencing set for August 12, 2026, before Judge W. Scott Hardy; maximum 10 years per count plus $250,000 fines.
Explicit Threats Target Trump Administration
Shawn Monper posted videos on YouTube under “Mr Satan” between January 15 and April 5, 2025. He vowed to “assassinate” President Trump “myself” and called to “start killing” Trump, Elon Musk, agency heads, and ICE agents labeled “terrorist people.” Monper referenced a mass shooting and “American Revolution 2.0.” These rants tied directly to backlash against Trump’s second-term policies, including immigration enforcement by ICE. He bragged about obtaining guns, ammunition, body armor, and a firearms permit after the inauguration.
FBI Response and Rapid Arrest
FBI agents received notification of the YouTube account on April 8, 2025, and traced it to Monper’s home in Butler, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement arrested him the next day, April 9, 2025, with assistance from Butler Township Police. The investigation highlighted threats not only to Trump but also to teachers and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, as detailed in FBI testimony. Federal charges accused Monper of intending to impede or retaliate against officials’ duties through assault and murder threats.
Guilty Plea Amid Political Tensions
On Monday before April 14, 2026, Monper pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of threatening to assault and murder U.S. officials, including President Trump and ICE agents. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the plea, emphasizing the threats’ gravity. U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy will sentence Monper on August 12, 2026. He faces up to 10 years per count and $250,000 fines, totaling potential 20 years imprisonment. This case unfolds in Butler, site of the July 13, 2024, rally where Trump was shot in the ear.
Monper’s actions reflect deepening polarization post-2024 election. Conservatives see such extremism as a direct assault on America First policies and elected leadership. Even as frustration mounts across political lines with government overreach and elite corruption, threats undermine the rule of law and peaceful discourse both sides claim to value. Swift prosecution reaffirms federal commitment to protecting officials executing voter-mandated duties like border security.
Butler man’s online rants to kill Trump end in guilty plea after FBI probe https://t.co/9FZT0DBuLq
— Follow @JodyField (@JodyField) April 14, 2026
Implications for Security and Online Speech
The guilty plea sets a precedent for addressing online threats amid rising post-election tensions. Short-term, it heightens security for Trump administration figures and ICE agents facing retaliation for enforcing immigration laws. Long-term, it may deter violent rhetoric on platforms like YouTube, signaling stricter FBI monitoring. Butler residents endure added stigma from back-to-back incidents, amplifying local vigilance. Politically, the case bolsters arguments against leftist extremism targeting MAGA policies while exposing risks to public servants.
Americans on both sides share distrust of entrenched powers prioritizing self-preservation over citizens’ dreams. Yet Monper’s armed buildup and calls for revolution deviate from founding principles of ordered liberty. This prosecution upholds accountability, reminding that free speech stops at inciting violence against leaders upholding the Constitution.
Sources:
Butler man’s online rants to kill Trump end in guilty plea after FBI probe
Butler man pleads guilty to threatening to kill Trump
FBI agent testifies Butler man made death threats against Trump, teachers, Marjorie Taylor Greene
