Florida Man’s Social Media Post Threatening Trump Lead To Arrest

A Florida man who challenged former President Donald Trump to a fight has been arrested on serious charges after posting disturbing threats on social media that caught the attention of federal authorities.

Key Takeaways

Kendal Aaron Todd, 42, was arrested in St. Lucie County, Florida, after making explicit threats against former President Donald Trump on social media.
Todd faces charges of “written threats to kill or do bodily harm” and is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Authorities found two handguns at Todd’s residence and implemented Florida’s “red flag” law to temporarily seize his weapons.
The suspect has a history of mental health issues, including previous Baker Act treatment, and reportedly had “suicide by cop” ideations.
The investigation involved cooperation between local law enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service after the threats were flagged.

Bizarre Threats Prompt Immediate Action

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Secret Service executed a search warrant leading to the arrest of Kendal Aaron Todd, a 42-year-old Fort Pierce resident. Todd posted an 80-second video on social media declaring himself president and calling Trump the Antichrist, while making specific violent threats. The disturbing content included a challenge to Trump to “fight me naked to the death” and more graphic threats involving a chainsaw and acid.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro confirmed that Todd’s behavior had been escalating prior to his arrest. Law enforcement had been monitoring Todd for over a week due to concerns about his mental health, implementing a risk protection order before the arrest. When deputies previously attempted to deliver civil paperwork to Todd’s home, he reportedly became combative and threatened violence.

A Florida man has been arrested after deputies say he posted about wanting to cause bodily harm to President Donald Trump on social media. https://t.co/NDRXj50G4E

— FOX 13 Tampa Bay (@FOX13News) March 18, 2025

History of Mental Health Concerns

Court records revealed Todd has a history of mental health issues, including previous treatment under Florida’s Baker Act. According to sheriff’s officials, the investigation uncovered Todd’s clear intentions to harm the former president. “The investigation revealed that Todd posted threatening messages on his public social media page, in which he expressed intentions to cause bodily harm to President Donald Trump,” stated sheriff’s officials.

“We had a risk protection order for Mr. Todd; we’ve been watching him for several days,” said Sheriff Del Toro.

Perhaps most concerning, a relative reported that Todd had expressed “suicide by cop” ideations. During the search of Todd’s residence, authorities discovered two handguns, prompting immediate action under Florida’s “red flag” law, which allows for temporary seizure of firearms from individuals showing signs of violence. A risk protection order against Todd remains in place until a March 24 hearing.

Coordinated Response Between Agencies

The case represents a swift response from multiple law enforcement agencies after Todd’s threats appeared online. Sheriff Del Toro explained how the situation unfolded: “He just kept escalating his behavior. He got the attention obviously of the United States Secret Service—and that got our attention.”

Neighbors in the area reported noticing increased law enforcement presence around Todd’s residence in the days leading up to his arrest. One neighbor, Ronald Barron, expressed his disapproval of Todd’s actions, stating simply: “That’s not cool at all.” The case has drawn additional attention because Todd is the brother of Tricia Todd, who was murdered by her ex-husband in a high-profile case in 2016.

With the $500,000 bond set and serious charges pending, Todd faces significant legal consequences for his threatening statements. The case serves as a reminder that threats against current or former government officials, regardless of how bizarre, are taken with the utmost seriousness by federal and local authorities.