FBI arrests three Alabama students over Trump assassination plot

FBI officials say that students at a college in Alabama posted threats against President Donald Trump on social media before a rally on campus. The posts, found by the FBI, included the phrase “he gotta die bro” and a warning that “we only got one chance, let’s take it.” The messages were posted within hours of the rally scheduled for Tuesday, 3 pm, at the university’s main campus.

The incident comes amid a rise in threats directed at public officials in the United States. Trump’s 2024 campaign has drawn large crowds in the South, and his rallies have attracted both supporters and critics. The university’s security team has reported an increase in online harassment of students and staff over the past month, prompting the school to work with law enforcement to monitor social‑media activity. The FBI’s investigation follows a broader push to track extremist threats that could turn violent.

According to the FBI report, the threats were traced to three students enrolled in the university’s political science program. The investigators found that the accounts were linked to the campus network and had been active for several days before the rally. The students have not been charged yet, but the FBI said it is considering federal terrorism and hate‑crime statutes. University officials say they have suspended the accounts and are reviewing the campus’s cybersecurity policies. Trump’s campaign staff have issued a brief statement calling the posts “unacceptable and a threat to public safety” and urged the authorities to take swift action.

The investigation is still underway. If the students face federal charges, they could be subject to up to 20 years in prison. The case highlights the tension between free speech and the safety of public figures. Law‑enforcement officials say they will continue to monitor online activity around future rallies. The incident may prompt universities across the country to tighten their social‑media monitoring and to collaborate more closely with federal agencies.