A former U.S. Coast Guard officer from Oakton, Virginia, has been arrested for making death threats against former President Donald Trump, federal court documents reveal.
Peter Stinson, who served from 1988 to 2021 and reached the rank of Lieutenant, is accused of issuing threats against Trump from April 4, 2020, through June 11, 2025. According to a 19-page affidavit filed by an FBI Task Force Officer, Stinson’s threats primarily occurred on social media platforms, including Bluesky and X.
Stinson, who had sharpshooter qualifications, made multiple posts advocating violence. In one post dated April 6, 2020, he wrote, “Would someone just pull the proverbial trigger, please.” That same day, he followed up with, “I would do it. I would take the fall to save America… I am willing to serve in a support capacity for someone else with the skills to take care of things.”
More recently, on March 4, 2025, he posted about target practice, referencing “shooting oranges,” which federal investigators viewed as concerning in context.
The FBI became aware of Stinson’s online activity after someone tagged Director Kash Patel in an Instagram post. Stinson also self-identified as a member of ANTIFA and expressed anti-Trump sentiments across several platforms.
Stinson is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
The Mayday Movement USA, an organization that Stinson allegedly founded, issued a statement distancing itself from the charges, saying, “This does not align with Peter as we know him, nor the values of this movement.” The group advocates for the impeachment and removal of Donald Trump.
The case remains under federal investigation.
