Federal authorities arrested a Texas man on July 10 after he allegedly made a direct threat to assassinate US President Donald Trump, referencing the failed attempt on Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, earlier this year. The arrest comes amid rising tensions and repeated threats targeting the Republican leader, as he continues his campaign for a return to the White House.
According to the Department of Justice, the suspect, 52-year-old Robert Herrera of Texas, made the threat on a Facebook page of a local news outlet in the lead-up to Trump’s scheduled visit to the Texas Hill Country, an area recently ravaged by deadly floods. The visit was part of Trump’s statewide tour to assess storm damage and galvanize support ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
In a chilling message posted under the handle “Robert Herrer,” Herrera allegedly wrote, “I won’t miss,” accompanying his post with a widely circulated photograph of Trump taken moments after the July 2024 shooting in Butler, where the former president was grazed by a bullet during a rally.
When another user questioned the remark, Herrera reportedly responded with a direct threat: “I’ll just come for you,” and followed up with a photograph of an assault rifle and loaded magazines, according to court documents filed by the DOJ. The FBI took the threat seriously due to the proximity of Trump’s upcoming public appearance and the apparent intent demonstrated by the image.
Trump’s survival in the July 2024 assassination attempt has significantly elevated security concerns around his public events. During that incident, a lone gunman opened fire from a nearby building, killing one rally attendee and injuring two others before being neutralized by a US Secret Service sniper. Trump, who was struck in the ear, resumed speaking moments later, signaling resilience to his supporters and further cementing his status as a political figure who, in the eyes of his base, remains under siege.
The attack prompted widespread criticism of the Secret Service and a reckoning within the agency. An internal review concluded that there had been severe lapses in planning and perimeter security during the Butler event. As a result, on July 10-the same day as Herrera’s arrest—six agents were suspended, and Kimberly Cheatle, the agency’s director at the time of the attack, resigned under pressure earlier this year.
The incident involving Herrera marks the latest in a series of threats and plots that have surfaced against Trump in recent months. In September 2024, another potential shooter was apprehended near a Trump-owned golf course in Florida. The man had reportedly been scoping out a position with a rifle when law enforcement intercepted him before any violence occurred.
Moreover, in a separate case that drew attention due to its disturbing twist, a Mexican national, Ramon Morales-Reyes, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a handwritten letter threatening Trump’s life was traced to him. However, he was later released after another individual confessed to writing the letter in an attempt to falsely implicate Morales-Reyes and ensure his deportation. That suspect, who remains unnamed, allegedly wanted to prevent Morales-Reyes from testifying in an upcoming trial.
These repeated threats have reignited debate over political violence, extremism, and the polarized climate surrounding the 2024 election. While violent rhetoric against politicians is not new, experts warn that the normalization of such discourse on social media has emboldened individuals to act on their threats or, at the very least, push the boundaries of legality.
“The rhetoric has become increasingly dangerous,” said former FBI agent Jonathan White. “When you mix deep political divides with the anonymity of online platforms and access to firearms, the result is a volatile environment where credible threats must be taken seriously.”
Federal prosecutors emphasized that even online threats-if deemed credible-constitute a serious federal offense. Herrera is expected to face charges related to threatening the president of the United States and possibly illegal weapons-related violations. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison or more, depending on whether additional charges are filed.
The DOJ’s decision to publicize the case highlights the heightened sensitivity surrounding Trump’s safety and the political implications of further attacks. The Biden administration, under pressure to ensure fairness and transparency in protecting all presidential candidates, has pledged full cooperation with the Secret Service and other agencies.
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign team has doubled down on security at future rallies, opting for smaller venues with stricter entrance screening and aerial surveillance. “The president is not intimidated,” said a campaign spokesperson. “But we are working closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our team, supporters, and the American people.”
As Trump continues his campaign in battleground states, including upcoming visits to Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona, the specter of violence remains a looming threat-not just to one candidate, but to the stability of the democratic process itself.
The arrest of Robert Herrera serves as a stark reminder of how the toxic fusion of political hatred, online radicalization, and weak institutional safeguards can produce real-world threats. Whether such incidents will prompt deeper reform within the Secret Service and broader federal security systems remains to be seen. For now, the focus remains on protecting political leaders from those who see violence as a form of speech.
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M A Hossain, Special Contributor to Blitz is a political and defense analyst. He regularly writes for local and international newspapers.
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