Florida Man Faces Five Years for Threatening Trump with Assassination

Ormond Beach, Florida, USA - In a shocking turn of events, a young resident of Ormond Beach, Sheldon James Biddle, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for making online threats against President Donald Trump. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe and became public on June 9, 2025. The allegations stem from a series of postings made on April 2, in which Biddle suggested that Trump „was going to get assassinated for engaging in treason,“ a statement that authorities classified as a „true threat of violence“ according to TampaFP.

Biddle, 25, has found himself at the center of a federal investigation led by the United States Secret Service, in collaboration with local law enforcement, namely the Ormond Beach Police Department and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. If found guilty, he faces a hefty maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

Details of the Case

Alongside the threats directed at Trump, Biddle’s social media accounts displayed a troubling pattern of behavior. His posts did not only target the President; they included inflammatory statements against various public figures, including Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and conservative commentator Dan Bongino. Particularly alarming were messages urging Trump to “shut up before you end up like Kennedy,” hinting at past political assassinations.

Initially booked in Volusia County Jail on April 11, Biddle was released on a $10,000 bail before being rearrested on June 5, following the federal indictment. Since then, the state has dropped its criminal charges against him, allowing the federal case to take center stage, as noted by Yahoo News.

Biddle’s unsettling online activity painted a disturbing picture that included antisemitic and pro-Hitler sentiments. In the wake of this indictment, he made a plea of not guilty and is expected to stand trial on August 4, 2025, with a federal public defender at his side.

The Bigger Picture

This troubling incident reflects a broader trend of increasing threats against public officials. Recent reports indicate a stark rise in such threats, particularly during Donald Trump’s presidency, which saw politically motivated threats surge by a staggering 178%. As CNN has observed, the political landscape is becoming increasingly hostile, especially in the lead-up to crucial elections. It has been reported that over 9,600 threats were made against Congress members in 2021, yet only a fraction resulted in federal charges.

The nature of threats has evolved, being not only frequent but also increasingly targeted. For instance, a recent article details several instances where officials, both Republican and Democratic, received serious threats that disrupted their daily functions and even led to resignations. The Department of Homeland Security has raised alarms about the increasing potential for violence stemming from radicalized individuals, particularly as the 2024 elections approach.

As Biddle awaits his trial, the community is left to reflect on the implications of such threats—not just on the individuals involved but on democracy as a whole. The dialogue surrounding our political climate suggests there’s much to be done regarding the safety of public figures and the civil discourse surrounding them, making this case a poignant example of the crises facing society today.