by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
WASHINGTON/BOSTON (Worthy News) – A sword-wielding man from the U.S. state of Massachusetts has been arrested for allegedly making threats to kill President Donald J. Trump and “hang him” from the Statue of Liberty in New York.
The alleged messages from May to July 2025 were posted on Facebook by Andrew D. Emerald, 45, of Great Barrington, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts confirmed.
“We’re gonna hang him from the Statue of Liberty until his pathetic bloated corpse rots off [and] falls in the ocean,” Emerald allegedly wrote in one message.
Emerald was taken into custody Wednesday morning after a standoff involving a sword and is expected to appear in court later in the day, officials added.
SWORD STANDOFF AND CHARGES
Authorities indicated Emerald faces an eight-count federal indictment over a series of online threats, including a post in which he allegedly vowed to travel to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence if the president was not dead by 2026.
When agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) went to his home to execute an arrest warrant, Emerald initially refused to surrender and later emerged brandishing a long metallic sword, according to an affidavit.
Investigators noted he had previously referenced the weapon in online threats, including one in which he allegedly described using it against the president.
A crisis negotiation team and local police were deployed.
FBI TIP AND INVESTIGATION
After a tense standoff, Emerald ultimately surrendered following contact by phone with an officer.
Prosecutors indicated the case came to light after a concerned citizen reported the threats.
Court documents show Emerald allegedly responded that he had been “threatening Trump for years” and warned he would fight law enforcement if approached.
The FBI and the United States Secret Service are involved in the investigation.
HEIGHTENED SECURITY CONCERNS
The arrest comes amid heightened security concerns following previous assassination attempts targeting Trump.
In July 2024, a gunman opened fire during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, wounding Trump and killing a bystander before being shot by security personnel.
In a separate case later that year, a suspect was detained near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida after allegedly attempting to target him.
Officials stress that threats against current or former presidents are treated as serious federal crimes.
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