A man from the northern suburbs of Illinois was taken into custody on Monday for allegedly making death threats against former President Donald Trump, authorities have announced.
Trent Schneider, a 57-year-old resident of Winthrop Harbor, is now in federal custody. His arrest came after a coordinated operation involving the U.S. Secret Service and a SWAT team in Lake County.
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Earlier on Monday, footage from Chopper 7 captured the moment Schneider was apprehended peacefully. Federal agents were present at his home located in the 2800 block of 15th Street.
The Northern District of Illinois U.S. Attorney’s Office said according to a criminal complaint unsealed on Monday, Schneider posted a video of himself on Oct. 16, 2025, on Instagram in which he stated, “I’m going to get some guns. I know where I can get a lot of [expletive] guns and I am going to take care of business myself. I’m tired of all you [expletive] frauds. People need to [expletive[ die and people are going to die. [Expletive] all of you, especially you Trump. You should be executed.” The video also included a caption that stated, in part, “THIS IS NOT A THREAT!!! AFTER LOSING EVERYTHING and My House Auction date is 11.04.2025 @realDonaldTrump SHOULD BE EXECUTED!!!”
The arrest was prompted by a tip from a concerned citizen in Florida who saw a threatening video and alerted law enforcement officials, according to the complaint.
Schneider faces federal charges for making a credible threat to harm another individual.
ABC7 spoke to a neighbor who revealed that Schneider has been residing alone in his home for nearly a decade. The neighbor mentioned that Schneider has had prior legal issues and has a history of making threats against government officials on social media platforms.
That neighbor also said that there is relief among neighbors that Schneider is being detained.
Schneider appeared in federal court on Monday afternoon, where a judge ordered him to remain in custody pending a detention hearing on Thursday.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran issued a statement, saying, “Protecting the President of the United States is the Secret Service’s top priority. We fully investigate any and all threats to his safety – no matter the platform – because we take them extremely seriously. This case should serve as a reminder that actions have consequences,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran said. “I am proud of our agents’ swift and decisive actions in this case. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, for their invaluable help in carrying out our protective mission.”
