Three University of South Alabama students were arrested Friday after alleged social media threats against Donald Trump. The arrests came before his rally at the university's Mitchell Center in Mobile.
Federal cases were unsealed Friday afternoon before Trump was scheduled to speak. Investigators said they found the posts during social media intelligence searches ahead of the visit and used emergency disclosure requests and University of South Alabama police information to identify the students.
Paul Burch and the search
Earlier in the week, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said his office was helping federal authorities monitor social media activity tied to the president's upcoming appearance. That search led investigators to posts made in the days before Trump arrived.
One student allegedly wrote a threatening remark toward Trump under a TikTok post about the planned visit. Another allegedly posted on X that people would remember the University of South Alabama the same way they remember Utah Valley University. Investigators tied that reference to Utah Valley University and Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot there last year.
University of South Alabama statement
The University of South Alabama said the rally was not university-sponsored and that the Mitchell Center had been rented by the Republican National Committee. In a statement before the event, the university said it “unequivocally condemns any form of threats directed at elected officials or any individual with whom we disagree.”
The university also said, “We encourage open dialogue and active civic participation, and having a difference of opinion is a natural part of any vibrant community.” It added, “However, there is a clear line between exercising free expression and engaging in intimidation or unlawful conduct.”
The cases now move forward as federal prosecutions tied to online speech and a presidential visit. The filings leave open a basic legal question: what exact federal charges were filed against each of the three students?
