“If I see an armed ICE agent, I will consider it a domestic terrorist”

Editor’s note (4/11/2025): The story has been updated to reflect a statement from the Justice Department.

A Pennsylvania man was arrested for allegedly making a series of online threats against President Donald Trump, DOGE head Elon Musk, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Following an emergency disclosure request to YouTube on Tuesday, FBI agents arrested Shawn Monper for threatening federal officials. 

According to an affidavit unsealed today in the Western District of Pennsylvania, a YouTube user named “Mr Satan” left comments on a video of President Trump’s joint address to Congress, allegedly stating “im gonna assassinate him myself” (SIC). In another video titled “Trump Prepares for BENCHSLAP as Hearing ERUPTS INTO CHAOS,” “Mr Satan” posted “ICE are terrorist people, we need to start killing them.” He allegedly commented, “If I see an armed ice agent, I will consider it a domestic terrorist, and an active shooter and open fire on them” (SIC) on a third video’s page.

In February, authorities say Mopner posted, “Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way. Remember, we are the majority, MAGA is a minority of the country, and by the time its time to make the move, they will be weakened, many will be crushed by these policies, and they will want revenge too. American Revolution 2.0.”

Court records state the FBI received information from Google on the “Mr Satan” user, which purportedly matched Monper’s name, email, and phone number. The arrest of Monper has not previously been reported. 

Authorities say that Monper applied for and received a firearms permit in late January. Court records note that Monper allegedly posted online “I have been buying 1 gun a month since the election, body armor, and ammo.” He purportedly commented on March 13, 2025, “Eventually im going to do a mass shooting” (SIC). 

According to a preliminary review by NCITE and Chapman University, Monper is among the more than a dozen individuals who have been charged this year for threatening a public official, with many focusing their violent rhetoric toward President Trump. A Maine man was indicted this week for threatening President Trump. Last week, a man was arrested in North Texas for allegedly threatening on social media to kill ICE agents. 

In a press release issued Friday: “I want to applaud the outstanding and courageous investigative work of the FBI and the Butler Township Police Department, who thankfully identified and apprehended this individual before he could carry out his threats against President Trump’s life and the lives of other innocent Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Rest assured that whenever and wherever threats of assassination or mass violence occur, this Department of Justice will find, arrest, and prosecute the suspect to the fullest extent of the law and seek the maximum appropriate punishment.”

Monper’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Monper had an initial appearance in front of a federal judge on Thursday and will be held pending a detention hearing on Monday.