Kamal Ghorui
A Florida man has been arrested after allegedly posting a photo of himself holding a rifle along with a threat aimed at US President Donald Trump.20-year-old Nick Guadalupe Cruz-Lopez was taken into custody on April 2 after he shared an image on Instagram showing himself with an AR-15 style rifle. The post included the caption, “MAGA Otw to kill trump.” Federal agents tracked him down and arrested him the same day. He has been charged with making a threat to kill the president of US.Threats against a sitting or former US president are treated as serious federal offences. If convicted, Cruz-Lopez could face up to five years in prison.The arrest comes amid continued concern over threats against political figures in the United States. Donald Trump has faced several security incidents in recent years. Last month, the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office in Gainesville alleged that a Missouri woman, Johnetta Parsons, was planning to kill Trump using a gun taken from her father.In July 2024, Trump survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman grazed his ear. One person in the crowd was killed and two others were injured. The suspect, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was shot dead by law enforcement officers.Another incident followed in September 2024 at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. A man identified as Ryan Routh was arrested before he could carry out an attack. He was later sentenced to life in prison in February 2026.Cruz-Lopez is expected to appear in federal court in Florida, where prosecutors will present evidence related to the charges. If found guilty, he could face significant prison time under federal laws dealing with threats against the president.
