A 50-year-old woman from Indiana has been arrested and charged with federal crimes after allegedly plotting to kidnap and assassinate former President Donald Trump, prosecutors confirmed this week.
The woman, identified as Nathalie Rose Jones of Lafayette, was taken into custody in Washington, D.C., following what authorities described as a disturbing escalation of online threats that culminated in her travelling to the nation’s capital with the intention of carrying out her violent plan.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Jones was apprehended on Saturday after Secret Service agents had been monitoring her social media activity for several weeks. She was formally charged on Monday with multiple federal offences, including threatening to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm on the President of the United States, as well as transmitting interstate communications containing violent threats.
Online threats
Court documents reveal that Jones first came to the attention of federal investigators in early August, when she allegedly began posting graphic and threatening messages directed at Trump.
On August 6, she reportedly wrote a message on Facebook declaring her willingness to “sacrificially kill this POTUS by disemboweling him and cutting out his trachea.” The post, which was flagged by authorities, was addressed to the FBI and also mentioned former Congresswoman Liz Cheney and a phrase she called “The Affirmation.” Prosecutors have not elaborated on the meaning or origin of that phrase.
Just over a week later, on August 14, Jones allegedly escalated her rhetoric further. In a post directed at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, she urged him to oversee what she called the “arrest and removal ceremony” of Trump, whom she described as “a terrorist on the American People.” In the same message, she gave a specific time and place for the supposed event, naming the White House between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on August 16, 2025.
Secret Service interview
The alarming nature of these posts prompted the Secret Service to arrange an interview with Jones on August 15. She reportedly attended voluntarily, but what she told agents during the meeting only deepened concerns about her intentions.
According to investigators, Jones admitted that she would attempt to kill Trump “if the opportunity presented itself.” She allegedly referenced the use of a bladed weapon and made mention of something she called “the compound,” though the meaning of that term remains unclear.
Prosecutors say she told agents that her motive was to “avenge all the lives lost during the Covid-19 pandemic” and that she considered Trump both a “terrorist” and a “nazi.”
While Jones later insisted she had no “present desire” to harm the former president, authorities remained unconvinced. Her statements, combined with the specific threats posted online and her decision to travel to Washington, led officials to conclude she posed a credible danger.
Arrest near the White House
On Saturday, Jones attended a protest near the White House. It was there that Secret Service agents moved to arrest her, citing the escalating risk and her continued acknowledgement of the threats she had made online.
She was taken into custody without incident and later charged with federal offences carrying severe penalties.
Potential prison sentence
The charges against Jones are among the most serious available under federal law in relation to threats against a president. Conviction could lead to a lengthy prison sentence.
“Threatening the life of the President is one of the most serious crimes and one that will be met with swift and unwavering prosecution,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a statement. “Make no mistake, justice will be served.”
Jones is expected to appear in court later this week, where prosecutors are likely to argue that she should remain in custody pending trial due to the severity of the allegations and the potential risk she poses to public safety.
Broader concerns
The case comes amid heightened concerns about threats to public figures in the United States. Both law enforcement officials and politicians have warned of a surge in violent rhetoric online, often spilling over into real-world incidents.
Former President Trump, who remains a highly polarising figure, has been the subject of numerous threats since leaving office, with the Secret Service continuing to maintain protective measures around him.
In this instance, officials say it was the combination of specific online statements, references to methods of attack, and actual travel to Washington that made Jones’ case particularly alarming.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities examining Jones’ digital footprint and possible communications with others. For now, prosecutors stress that her arrest prevented what they describe as a “potentially catastrophic” situation from developing further.