A Rome, Georgia man will spend more than three years in federal prison for making threats to assassinate President Donald Trump during a TikTok livestream last summer.
U.S. District Judge William M. Ray II sentenced Jauan Rashun Porter, 30 years old, to three years and five months in a federal correctional facility, followed by three years of supervised release. Porter had pleaded guilty on October 7, 2025, to transmitting interstate threats after posting a series of violent messages targeting the president on the social media platform.
The case began on July 26, 2025, when Porter joined a TikTok livestream titled “Alligator Alcatraz” that focused on President Trump. Within moments of joining the broadcast, Porter posted a comment stating his intention to kill the president by putting a bullet between his eyes.
Over the following minutes, Porter escalated his threats with increasingly graphic and specific messages. He threatened to put a bullet in Trump’s head and stated he would watch the president die. Porter also mentioned an upcoming rally, threatening to shoot Trump at the event. His posts described loading up a rifle and positioning himself in an abandoned building to carry out the attack, targeting either the president’s face or chest.
When the livestream host questioned Porter about the possibility of federal agents arriving at his door, Porter responded by threatening to kill them too, then take his own life. These threats against federal agents added another layer of severity to the case, demonstrating a willingness to engage in violence against law enforcement personnel.
The U.S. Secret Service launched an investigation after a recording of the livestream was forwarded to the agency. During the investigation, Secret Service agents worked alongside the Floyd County Police Department and Georgia probation officers to conduct a search of Porter’s apartment in Rome, Georgia.
The search uncovered concerning materials. Law enforcement found two pipes, pistol ammunition, and Tannerite, which is an explosive material used primarily for target practice but can be dangerous when misused. However, investigators did not find a gun during the search of the apartment. The presence of ammunition and explosive materials, combined with the explicit threats, painted a troubling picture of Porter’s intentions.
When Secret Service agents interviewed Porter, they informed him that TikTok had provided account holder information for his username. Porter initially denied making the threats but eventually confessed to issuing them on the livestream. According to investigators, Porter acknowledged the seriousness of his actions during questioning.
Porter’s girlfriend told investigators that he had mentioned the incident to her. She said she had warned him about making such threats and the seriousness with which the government treats them. She also revealed that Porter frequently spent time online trolling in a similar manner, describing it as a social outlet for him. This pattern of online behavior suggested the threats were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of provocative online activity.
The case was particularly serious given Porter’s extensive criminal history. He had prior felony convictions for terroristic threats in both 2018 and 2019, influencing a witness in 2019, and violence in a penal institution in 2023. He also had convictions for firearm possession by a felon in 2023 and domestic violence battery. Most significantly, Porter was on probation at the time he made the threats against President Trump, demonstrating a continued disregard for legal consequences.
Porter was detained on August 8, 2025, and remained in custody throughout the legal proceedings. His conviction came after he pleaded guilty rather than proceeding to trial, accepting responsibility for transmitting interstate threats.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg emphasized the gravity of such crimes in a statement following the sentencing. “Threatening to kill the President of the United States is an abhorrent crime that cannot be tolerated,” Hertzberg said. “Because the Constitution affords no protection to political violence, we will continue to work closely with our federal partners to identify and prosecute criminals who make such threats.”
Robert Donovan also addressed the case. “When free speech devolves into threats against the President of the United States or any of our protectees, you can expect the United States Secret Service to bring those criminals to justice,” Donovan said.
The case highlights the fine line between protected speech and criminal threats. While the First Amendment protects a wide range of political expression, including harsh criticism of public officials, it does not protect true threats of violence. The courts have established that threats against the president are taken with utmost seriousness due to the potential danger they pose and the need to protect the nation’s highest elected official.
Social media platforms have become increasingly vigilant about threats made against public officials. TikTok’s cooperation in providing account holder information to law enforcement was crucial in this case, demonstrating how technology companies work with federal agencies to investigate potential threats. The platform’s ability to preserve livestream content proved essential in building the case against Porter.
The Secret Service has primary jurisdiction over threats against the president and other protectees. The agency investigates hundreds of threats each year, ranging from offhand comments to detailed plots. Each threat is assessed for credibility and intent, with factors including the specificity of the threat, the person’s access to weapons, and their history of violence all playing roles in determining the appropriate response.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Pearce prosecuted the case, working with investigators to build evidence against Porter. The prosecution benefited from cooperation among multiple agencies, including the Floyd County Police Department, which provided valuable assistance during the investigation.
Porter’s sentence of three years and five months falls within federal sentencing guidelines for transmitting interstate threats. Following his release from prison, he will be subject to three years of supervised release, during which he must comply with various conditions set by the court. Any violation of these conditions could result in his return to federal custody.
The case serves as a stark reminder that online threats carry real-world consequences. What some may view as venting or trolling can cross into criminal territory when threats become specific and credible. Law enforcement agencies have developed sophisticated methods for tracking and investigating online threats, and social media users should understand that their posts are not anonymous when they involve potential violence against public officials.
For Porter, a history of criminal behavior combined with explicit threats made while on probation resulted in significant federal prison time. His case demonstrates how prior convictions and ongoing legal supervision can influence sentencing decisions, particularly when the new offense involves threats against the president. The federal correctional system will now oversee his incarceration, where his pattern of criminal conduct will finally face substantial consequences.