Federal authorities have arrested a Michigan man accused of issuing violent threats against President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The suspect, James Donald Vance Jr., faces multiple charges for threatening both officials through posts on the social media platform Bluesky.
Court documents allege that James Vance made an explicit post on April 1, 2025, stating: “If tRump, Vance, or Musk ever come to my city again, they will leave it in a body bag.”
The indictment further accuses Vance of willfully threatening the lives of the President and Vice President, a crime punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
Federal investigators uncovered an earlier threat made on March 7, in which Vance allegedly reacted to a post about Donald Trump Jr. possibly running for president in 2028. The post stated, “I will murder that stupid f—er before he gets secret service protection.”
These messages were posted under the username “Diaperjdv,” with prosecutors alleging that Vance knew the communications could be perceived as violent and threatening.
Vance faces one count of threatening to kill or harm the President and Vice President, along with two counts of sending interstate threatening communications. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maarten Vermaat on Wednesday and entered a not-guilty plea.
Judge Vermaat released Vance on a personal recognizance bond with strict conditions. These include staying within the Western District of Michigan, avoiding social media, abstaining from drugs and alcohol without a prescription, and participating in a computer monitoring program.
The case underscores a growing concern about threats made via social media platforms. Bluesky, the platform where Vance allegedly posted the threats, is now under scrutiny for how such incidents are monitored.
Experts warn that threats made online carry severe consequences, particularly when they target public officials. Federal charges related to such threats highlight the risks of disregarding the implications of incendiary online communication.
This case follows a similar incident earlier this month, where a California man was arrested for repeatedly threatening President Trump on social media. In one post, the man claimed he would “not rest” until Trump was “six feet under and off the face of the earth.”
The Michigan case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney, who will oversee the proceedings. As the legal process unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of online threats.
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