Manuel Tamayo-Torres, 45, a Tolleson, Arizona resident, has been apprehended by federal agents for allegedly issuing death threats towards President-elect Donald Trump and his family. The arrest occurred on November 25, 2024, in San Diego, California, following a string of videos that Tamayo-Torres uploaded on social media wherein he displayed firearms and made explicit threats.
Court records show that Tamayo-Torres shared multiple videos on Facebook over several months, accusing Trump of abducting and sex-trafficking his children. It remains uncertain, however, if Tamayo-Torres has any children. On November 21, in one of the videos, he declared, “[Y]ou’re gonna die. [Y]our son’s gonna die. Your whole family is going to die… I’m going to put a hole in your face.”
Another video dated August 23, showed Tamayo-Torres at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, during a Trump rally. He alleged that he witnessed Trump and his Secret Service agents abducting his daughter for sex trafficking.
Charges against Tamayo-Torres also include making false statements during firearm purchases. He purportedly lied on federal forms in 2023 while trying to purchase a pistol from a Phoenix gun store, denying any past felony convictions despite a 2003 assault conviction in San Diego.
It is expected that Tamayo-Torres will be extradited back to Arizona to face the charges.
This arrest is part of a growing number of threats against Trump and his close associates. Just this week, several of Trump’s prominent Cabinet nominees and appointees were victims of bomb threats and “swatting” attacks, where false reports are made to incite an armed law enforcement response. Federal authorities are actively investigating these incidents, according to Trump’s transition team.
The list of figures targeted includes New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, who was nominated as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick for attorney general. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, chosen to lead the Department of Labor, and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, selected to head the Environmental Protection Agency, were also victims of these attacks. Authorities responded promptly to ensure the safety of the individuals and their families.
The President-elect was the subject of two assassination attempts during his 2024 presidential campaign, one of which nearly succeeded. In July, during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman armed with an AR–15–style rifle fired eight rounds. One bullet grazed Trump’s right ear while another killed a supporter in the crowd. The shooter, positioned 400 feet from the stage, was neutralized by a Secret Service sniper before he could cause further damage.
In a different incident in September, a suspect equipped with an AK-47 rifle was detained near Trump’s Florida golf course. The individual hid for almost 12 hours before being intercepted by Secret Service agents, thwarting a potential attack.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into the latest incident, emphasizing the significance of safeguarding public figures and maintaining the safety of the democratic process.
