Left: Donald Trump speaks at the annual Road to Majority conference in Washington, DC, in June 2024 (Allison Bailey/NurPhoto via AP). Right: Cody Smith (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
A man from West Virginia is facing serious allegations after reportedly threatening the life of former President Donald Trump in a series of graphic messages directed at Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr. According to federal prosecutors, the messages included disturbing details about how he would harm the former president, specifically mentioning plans to cut his “jugular” and witness “the life” fade from his “pathetic eyes.” Additionally, the suspect allegedly shared a music track ominously titled, “I Am Going to Kill the President.”
The accused, Cody Smith, 20, allegedly tagged both Trump and Trump Jr. in an Instagram post containing the threat, “I will kill you[r] b— a— dad,” as outlined in his federal indictment.
In another alarming Instagram direct message to Trump Jr., Smith is said to have written, “I’m going to rape your worthless father … with his jugular cut while the life leaves his pathetic eyes.”
Smith now faces multiple charges, including two counts of threats to murder the president, and charges related to influencing and retaliating against federal officials by threat of murder. These charges stem from his alleged threats against both the former president and his son, as stated by the Justice Department.
Earlier this year, Smith was arrested for making terroristic threats towards Trump supporters and ICE agents. Records from Harrison County jail indicate he was detained on these charges in January. However, his legal troubles escalated this week when the Northern District of West Virginia issued an indictment concerning the threats against the former president.
Tad Lipscomb, the resident agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Charleston, West Virginia office, emphasized the importance of safeguarding those under their protection. “The safety and security of those we protect is our highest priority and all threats against the President of the United States will be investigated and prosecuted,” he stated. Lipscomb also expressed gratitude for the collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, including HSI, the FBI, the West Virginia State Police, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, and federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia, in handling this case.
According to the indictment, Smith railed about Trump, Trump Jr., and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his online posts and even went so far as to call into the “ICE tip line” to provide his name and city of residence, Clarksburg, while making death threats.
“Im gonna give them my name and where to find me so stay tuned you might get to see me rape and kill some proud Nazi boy f—s,” Smith allegedly posted, before calling the tip line.
Prosecutors say the initial investigation into Smith began on Jan. 19, when the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office contacted the West Virginia State Police about someone making threats. According to authorities, Smith had posted videos of himself in which he stated his intent to harm others.
In the videos, Smith called the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and said “he was going to attack and kill ICE agents,” according to local NBC and ABC affiliate WBOY. He also allegedly threatened the person who answered his call, per CBS affiliate WDTV.
As investigators continued looking into the suspect, they allegedly found social media posts in which his rhetoric went beyond targeting law enforcement officers. Smith expressed his desire to “murder Trump supporters and or war supporters or service members willing to bootlick,” as well as the president himself, according to the DOJ.
Smith pleaded not guilty to the terroristic threats charges after they were filed and was facing up to three years behind bars for them.
Now, he’s facing up to five years for each of the presidential threat charges and up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts.
“Threats of violence and death against President Trump and our brave law enforcement partners will not be tolerated in the Northern District of West Virginia,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “We take threats seriously, regardless of how they are made, and will prosecute those who make them to the fullest extent of the law.”
