University of South Alabama Students Arrested for Alleged Threats Against Former President Trump

Three students from the University of South Alabama faced arrest on Friday for allegedly threatening former President Donald Trump before his rally at their Mobile campus. These charges stemmed from social media posts the students allegedly made ahead of Trump’s visit, according to Lagniappe Daily.

The federal cases were made public on Friday afternoon, hours before Trump appeared at the university’s Mitchell Center. Reports indicate that federal investigators uncovered the threats while conducting searches on social media as part of security preparations. Emergency disclosure requests and information from campus police helped identify the students involved, as detailed in FBI affidavits cited by Lagniappe.

One of the students allegedly left a threatening comment about Trump on TikTok concerning his scheduled campus visit. Another reportedly posted a message on X about the University of South Alabama, alluding to Utah Valley University, the site of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting. A third student’s alleged involvement was through a reply on TikTok regarding Trump’s attendance.

Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch mentioned his office’s collaboration with federal authorities to monitor social media related to Trump’s visit. The University of South Alabama clarified that the event was not sponsored by them and that the Mitchell Center was rented by the Republican National Committee (RNC).

“The University of South Alabama unequivocally condemns any form of threats directed at elected officials or any individual with whom we disagree,” the university stated. “We encourage open dialogue and active civic participation, and having a difference of opinion is a natural part of any vibrant community. However, there is a clear line between exercising free expression and engaging in intimidation or unlawful conduct.”

The university reiterated the importance of distinguishing between free speech and illegal threats.

Despite the security concerns, Trump addressed the crowd for the midterm campaign rally as planned. His return to Mobile marked approximately 11 years since his 2015 rally in the city during the early stages of his first presidential campaign. During the event, Trump acknowledged Sheriff Burch and University President Jo Bonner.

Fox News Digital sought further details from the Department of Justice, FBI, Secret Service, and the University of South Alabama. Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report for Fox News Digital, focusing on politics, military, legal debates, and cultural matters.