A suburban Chicago man was sentenced to three years and two months in federal prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of threatening to kill President Donald Trump and other public officials, according to federal prosecutors.
According to federal prosecutors, Trent Schneider, 58, threatened violence against judges, doctors, lawyers, police officers, and President Donald Trump in an Instagram video uploaded on October 21, 2025.
According to authorities, Schneider stated that those responsible for alleged crime “should be executed” and that he intended to procure firearms. Prosecutors said he also made a threat against Trump, stating the president “should be executed.”
Later that day, Schneider appeared in Lake County court for a pending foreclosure case, where he allegedly threatened to burn down the courthouse.
Earlier this year, a federal jury in Chicago found Schneider guilty of communicating a real threat to injure another person in interstate commerce.
On Wednesday, a federal judge sentenced him to three years and two months behind bars.
What they’re saying: “As I have repeatedly stated since becoming U.S. Attorney, threats against public officials are an attack on our democracy and must be met with swift and serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in lockstep with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute criminal threats of violence, including political violence. Those who cross the line into such conduct and activity will not find safe haven in the Northern District of Illinois.”
Acting U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Morley said protecting the president and other agency protectees remains the agency’s top priority.
“Safeguarding the President of the United States and all our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service’s top priority, as this case demonstrates,” said Acting SAIC Morley. “Political violence has no place in civil society, and we will vigorously pursue threats against our protectees. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois for its diligent prosecution in this important case. I also thank our law enforcement partners at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Winthrop Harbor Police Department for their support and collaboration throughout this investigation.”
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