Florida Man Arrested for Online Threats Against Donald Trump
Authorities in Florida have arrested a man accused of making alarming threats against former President Donald Trump, including a bizarre challenge to a fatal duel while unclothed.
The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement took action after discovering troubling social media activity by the suspect.
Threatening Video Prompts Investigation
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Kendal Aaron Todd, reportedly posted an 80-second video to his social media page in which he made disturbing statements about Trump.
“Donald Trump has personally made business decisions that have harmed many reincarnated Jesuses. Because of him, everyone in the world is cursed.
Donald Trump is the Antichrist. Fight me naked to the death! I’m going to cut you up with a chainsaw and put you in acid,” Todd ranted in the now-deleted footage.
His erratic behavior raised immediate concerns. St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro stated that Todd had been on law enforcement’s radar for over a week due to concerns about his mental health.
“He just kept escalating his behavior. He caught the attention of the U.S. Secret Service, which in turn caught our attention,” Del Toro explained.
Escalation Leads to SWAT Intervention
Authorities attempted to make contact with Todd at his residence, but he reportedly refused to cooperate, displayed hostility, and made additional threats of violence.
“No matter what political party you belong to, violence in politics is never acceptable,” Del Toro emphasized.
“We’ve seen previous assassination attempts on presidents, and we are not taking any chances. Our office was fully committed to investigating this matter.”
Due to the potential danger he posed, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service, moved in and arrested Todd.
He is currently being held at the St. Lucie County Jail on a charge of Written Threat to Kill or Do Bodily Harm, with his bond set at $500,000.
Heightened Security Following Assassination Attempts
Security concerns surrounding Trump have intensified following two assassination attempts in 2024.
The first occurred on July 13, when he was shot and injured while delivering a speech at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The second happened on September 15, when the Secret Service intercepted a man armed with a rifle near Trump’s Palm Beach golf course.
Court Documents Reveal Mental Health Concerns
Documents filed in court on March 11 indicate that the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office petitioned for a risk protection order, requesting judicial approval to confiscate any weapons Todd may possess.
The petition noted that Todd had recently exhibited violent behavior or threats and that he may suffer from serious or recurring mental health conditions.
A family member also informed law enforcement that Todd had previously expressed “suicide by cop” intentions. Additionally, records indicate he had been placed under Florida’s Baker Act in December 2023.
Florida’s Red Flag Law in Action
The Baker Act, formally known as the Florida Mental Health Act, allows individuals with mental illness to be involuntarily committed for up to 72 hours if they are deemed a threat to themselves or others.
Following the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, lawmakers enacted the state’s Red Flag Law.
This law enables law enforcement to petition a judge for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals who display warning signs of violence.
On March 11, a judge approved the request to move forward with action against Todd. A hearing regarding his case was scheduled for March 24.
As authorities continue to address security threats against political figures, this case underscores the challenges of balancing public safety with mental health concerns.
