WASHINGTON, D.C.—Federal authorities have arrested a 50-year-old Indiana woman accused of plotting to kidnap and assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to the nation’s capital.
The suspect, identified as Nathalie Rose Jones of Lafayette, Indiana, was taken into custody on August 16, 2025, following an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service. According to federal prosecutors, Jones traveled to Washington, D.C., with the alleged intent of carrying out a violent plan targeting Trump.
In a press release issued on August 18, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia revealed that Jones made a series of disturbing posts on Facebook and Instagram, where she graphically described her intentions. In one post, she allegedly wrote:
“I am willing to sacrificially kill this POTUS by disemboweling him and cutting out his trachea with Liz Cheney and all The Affirmation present.”
She also referenced an “arrest and removal ceremony” purportedly planned for Trump.
Following these online threats, the Secret Service opened a formal investigation, eventually linking the posts directly to Jones. On August 15, investigators interviewed her, during which she reportedly admitted to making the threats and said she would act “if given the opportunity.” She cited anger over the federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which she claimed had cost millions of lives.
However, prosecutors noted that Jones later attempted to walk back her statements, claiming she no longer intended to harm the former president.
Despite the retraction, Jones was charged with two serious federal offenses:
- Threatening the life of the President
- Transmitting interstate communications containing threats to kidnap or injure another person
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro underscored the gravity of the case, stating:
“Threatening the life of the President is one of the most serious crimes, and one that will be met with swift and unwavering prosecution.”
Court filings also suggest Jones has a history of mental health struggles, something she reportedly acknowledged in her online postings. At this time, it remains unclear whether she has secured legal representation.
The case is now pending before a federal court in Washington, D.C.
