A former Coast Guard lieutenant with specialized training in marksmanship was taken into custody Monday on federal charges for allegedly making repeated death threats against President Donald Trump over a five-year period.
Peter Stinson, 57, of Oakton, Virginia, served as an officer in the United States Coast Guard from 1988 to 2021, earning recognition for his sharpshooting abilities during his decades-long military career.
Court documents reveal that Stinson also worked as an instructor for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Incident Command Systems program, positions that required security clearances and public trust.
Federal prosecutors allege that Stinson identified himself as a member of the Antifa movement and used multiple social media platforms to transmit threatening messages targeting the President.
The criminal complaint details how Stinson allegedly posted violent threats on both X and Bluesky spanning from 2020 through 2025, using various code names to reference Trump.
Stinson used code names including “the orange,” “orange mf,” “orange thug,” “Krasnov,” “tfg,” “one ear” or an orange emoji when referring to Trump in his posts, according to the affidavit.
One of the earliest documented threats occurred in April 2020, when Stinson allegedly responded to another user’s post about suing Trump with the message: “somebody ought to do more than sue the orange mf’s a**.”
In that same exchange, Stinson reportedly added: “it involves a rifle and a scope, but I can’t talk about it here,” directly referencing his military training and expertise with firearms.
Another post cited in the complaint shows Stinson allegedly writing: “I’d be willing to pitch in $100 for a contract. Who wants to join me?”
“We could solve the solvable part of this problem in a crack. Then, we can focus on the coronavirus itself.”
The threats were not limited to guns, as charging documents indicate posts that suggested using “a gun, a knife and poison” against Trump.
In several instances, Newsweek reported that prosecutors say Stinson acknowledged he lacked certain skills but expressed willingness to participate in violence, allegedly offering to “pull the trigger” or serve as a “driver” for potential attacks.
The most recent post referenced in court documents was published on Bluesky on June 11, when Stinson allegedly wrote, “When he dies, the party is going to be yuge.”
Federal investigators documented numerous other threatening messages where Stinson allegedly expressed his intent to harm the President through violent means.
The investigation into Stinson’s activities appears to have been extensive, with law enforcement agencies monitoring his social media presence across multiple platforms over several years.
Court records indicate that Stinson’s threatening posts were not random outbursts but part of a sustained pattern of behavior that escalated in both frequency and specificity over time.
The Coast Guard confirmed that Stinson served with distinction for over three decades before his retirement in 2021, earning multiple awards and advancing through the ranks to lieutenant.
His subsequent work with FEMA would have required background checks and security clearances, positions that granted him access to sensitive emergency management protocols and government facilities.
Stinson’s arrest comes amid heightened security concerns surrounding threats against elected officials and demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to prosecuting such cases to the full extent of the law.
