FBI Arrests Podcaster Over Alleged Threats To Kill Trump

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested American podcaster and online commentator Azariah Southworth in Los Angeles over allegations that he threatened to kill US President Donald Trump.

Southworth, 40, was arrested at his home in the Westlake area of Los Angeles by FBI agents, according to court documents and US media reports.

Prosecutors allege that Southworth made multiple threats against Trump on social media between January and May 2026.

In a video posted in April, he allegedly said he had publicly advocated for Trump’s execution and called for the president to be killed.

Investigators also cited a January message in which Southworth allegedly wrote that if he had the opportunity to kill Trump, he would not waste it.

Another social media post allegedly showed an edited image of Southworth standing behind Trump in the Oval Office with a knife raised near the president’s head.

Southworth later described his call to kill Trump as “just rhetoric”, but prosecutors allege that his statements were deliberate and should be taken seriously.

He is also accused of targeting a former lawyer associated with Trump by publishing the lawyer’s home address and contacting members of his family.

Prosecutors allege that Southworth published telephone numbers belonging to the lawyer’s relatives and made at least 13 harassing interstate phone calls.

He faces federal charges including threatening the president, cyberstalking and interstate telephone harassment.

If convicted on all the charges, Southworth could face up to 12 years in federal prison.

An FBI special agent said federal authorities would not tolerate threats against the president.

Southworth’s arrest comes amid heightened security concerns surrounding Trump and continued federal investigations into threats against the president.

The allegations against Southworth have not been proven in court, and he remains presumed innocent unless convicted.