Federal authorities arrested Benjamin Azariah Southworth, an LGBT podcaster and former host of a Christian reality television show, in Los Angeles on Thursday. He faces federal charges for allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump, cyberstalking, and making harassing interstate calls, according to the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli.
Essayli stated that Southworth is accused of leading a harassment campaign against the family of one of Trump's personal attorneys. This campaign allegedly included posting videos calling for Trump's assassination, publishing the attorney's home address and phone number, and leaving voicemails with threats such as, "justice comes to your door."
Southworth's website, "Holy Menace," reportedly advertises stickers for sale that say "Kill Trump." According to the New York Post, which had a photographer present during the arrest, Southworth exclaimed, "Donald Trump is a pedophile. The country has fallen!" as he was taken into custody.
Court documents obtained by the publication allegedly state that on April 7, 2026, Southworth posted a video on his Instagram account where he said, "I have been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump. This government is illegitimate and out of control. It’s time for course correction. Kill Donald Trump."
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle commented on the alleged threats, stating that "Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible." He added that such individuals should "immediately seek psychiatric help to treat their severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has warped their brains and made them sick in the head."
Southworth previously hosted the Christian reality TV show "The Remix" in the late 2000s, which aired on Christian networks and featured Christian musicians. He publicly came out as gay in 2008 and later performed as an opening act for openly gay Christian singer Ray Boltz. In 2020, he co-hosted the podcast "Yass, Jesus!" described as an interfaith and sexuality-affirming comedy podcast.