Three students at the University of South Alabama have been arrested and face federal charges for allegedly making threats against President Donald Trump on social media in the days leading up to his rally at the campus on Friday. The charges were unsealed hours before Trump was scheduled to speak at the university's Mitchell Center.
Federal investigators identified the students through social media monitoring conducted in advance of the president's visit. According to FBI affidavits, one student posted a threatening remark under a TikTok video discussing Trump's planned appearance. Another student allegedly posted on X, formerly Twitter, referencing the 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and suggesting a similar fate for Trump's visit to the University of South Alabama.
The university stated that the rally was not sponsored by the institution and had been rented out by the Republican National Committee. In a statement, the University of South Alabama condemned threats and intimidation while affirming the importance of free expression and civic participation. The university also noted a distinction between exercising free speech and engaging in unlawful conduct.
Trump, who returned to Mobile for the midterm campaign rally, recalled his 2015 rally in the city that marked the beginning of his first presidential campaign. He acknowledged Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch and University of South Alabama President Jo Bonner from the stage. The Department of Justice, FBI, and Secret Service were contacted for further information.