Main: President Donald Trump delivers the Memorial Day Address at the 157th National Memorial Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Arlington, Va., as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, right, look on (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson). Inset: Michael Ray Sigmon (West Virginia Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation).
A 66-year-old West Virginia man has been apprehended following allegations that he threatened to assassinate Donald Trump, vowing to carry out the act on White House premises if Trump attempted to extend his presidency beyond a second term.
Michael Ray Sigmon was detained this week and faces charges including one count of making terrorist threats and another for sending harassing communications via computer, according to court documents.
The West Virginia State Police received a report on October 12 about a series of violent threats directed at government figures, as reported by Huntington’s NBC affiliate, WSAZ. The threats, allegedly made by Sigmon through various social media posts, were described as graphic and alarming in nature, as per the criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
According to Charleston’s ABC affiliate, WCHS, the complaint originated from the chair of the West Virginia Mountain Party. The chairperson stated that Sigmon, in April, completed a volunteer form for the party in which he allegedly threatened to murder police officers and “behead” former President Trump.
Sigmon is currently listed as a candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates in the 52nd District, representing the Mountain Party. Official records from the Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance Reporting System indicate his campaign is titled “Hell Bent for the House.”
The complaint further claims that Sigmon sent a message to the Mountain Party’s official Instagram account, in which he allegedly threatened to assassinate the president.
“Donald J Trump whom if elected leader in ’28, I will execute on day 1 on the South lawn,” the message allegedly said.
In addition to the alleged threats on Trump’s life, Sigmon is also accused of threatening to kill West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey “over an undetermined amount of currency” as well as billionaire and former advisor to Trump, Elon Musk.
Appearing in court for his arraignment on Wednesday, Sigmon told the judge that he was actually a victim, claiming that a police officer had recently attempted to kill him in his own home, footage posted by WCHS showed.
Sigmon was processed and booked into a state jail. He was initially being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond, but was let go on Tuesday after a judge granted his release on a personal recognizance bond.
Sigmon is currently scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 28, records show.
