A former teaching assistant at Illinois State University has been charged with making threats against President Donald J. Trump, according to federal authorities. Derek Lopez, 27, of El Paso, Illinois, was arrested on October 28, 2025, and faces preliminary hearings in Peoria, Illinois, on November 3.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois stated that Lopez’s arrest followed a month-long investigation involving the Illinois State University Police Department and federal agencies. The FBI Springfield Office confirmed the charges, citing online and in-person activities linked to threats against the president.

Lopez, who was previously fired as a graduate student teaching assistant after a viral video showed him flipping over a table belonging to Turning Point USA members on campus, had already been arrested for disorderly conduct and property damage related to that incident.

The FBI revealed Lopez allegedly posted online statements threatening Trump, including messages such as “I’m gonna kill Donald Trump” and references to targeting the president during a government shutdown. Lopez claimed his actions were protected under the First Amendment, but federal prosecutors described the threats as “heinous.”

FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that threats against public officials would not be tolerated, stating the agency would pursue justice for such acts. Lopez’s legal representation has not commented on the allegations. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.