A Providence, Rhode Island man was arrested Wednesday, July 9, on federal charges after allegedly posting death threats against President Donald Trump and two senior administration officials on Truth Social, according to federal prosecutors.
Carl D. Montague, 37, faces charges including threats against the president, interstate threats, and threats to assault, kidnap, or murder a United States official, judge, or law enforcement officer. The charges stem from a profanity-laced post allegedly made on June 27, 2025, in which Montague threatened to shoot and kill Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
According to court documents, Trump Media and Technology, the parent company of Truth Social, notified the U.S. Secret Service about the threatening post at 11:30 p.m. on June 27. The FBI’s Strategic Information & Operations Center also received an electronic tip about the threats.
Federal agents tracked the IP address associated with the threatening post to a residence on Plainfield Street in Providence, which is operated by Open Doors, a nonprofit organization that assists individuals re-entering society after incarceration. When agents initially attempted to locate Montague on June 30, they were told by a friend that he was not present and had not been seen for several days.
However, another resident informed investigators that Montague was most likely in the friend’s apartment and that he occasionally physically assaults the friend. When federal agents returned to the second-floor apartment with building management, they discovered Montague hiding in the bathtub. According to the criminal complaint, he began confessing to making threats before agents were able to introduce themselves or explain why they were there.
During questioning, Montague confirmed he was responsible for the Truth Social post and indicated he was smoking a lot of marijuana when he posted the threat. He told agents he was upset with current politics and expressed his frustrations via Truth Social, according to the FBI affidavit.
Montague acknowledged he did not have a specific reason to direct his threat toward Miller and Bondi, stating he observed their names in prior threads and posts he was viewing and then submitted his post. He claimed he could not identify Attorney General Bondi and expressed remorse for his message, according to court documents.
The defendant told investigators he did not have any intentions of shooting or inflicting violence on any government officials and does not own or have access to any weapons. He also indicated he did not have plans, intentions, or the means to travel to conduct violence.
Montague appeared before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Amy E. Moses on Wednesday afternoon, where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was not asked to enter a plea. Prosecutors requested he be held in custody, citing his criminal record which includes several assault charges and describing him as a prolific violator of court conditions.
Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan argued that the nature of the threat itself and the explicit violence demonstrated that the defendant is a threat to the community. She noted that Montague had six bail violations in prior cases over the past 10-plus years.
Court-appointed attorney Joanne M. Daley fought for Montague’s release, arguing that authorities did not immediately arrest him after speaking to him last week and that he had not acted on the alleged threats in the nine days between the interview and his arrest. She noted that no weapons were found at his residence and there was no evidence he tried to carry out the alleged threats.
Daley explained that Montague had lost his job due to grant funding cuts, lost his health insurance, and stopped taking medication. She argued that these circumstances played a role in his actions. NBC 10 News learned that Montague previously worked at Project Weber/Renew, a safe injection site in Providence, though employees said he had not worked with the organization for at least over a year.
Judge Moses determined that prosecutors did not meet the burden to prove Montague must be held and ordered his release with strict conditions. These include residing at Open Doors in one of its residential programs, seeking mental health treatment, having no contact with the people named in the threat, and being prohibited from possessing firearms, drugs, or alcohol. He cannot leave Rhode Island and must surrender his passport.
When approached by reporters outside the courthouse, Montague appeared angry at news crews and told them: “Stay away from me.” A court worker also accused Montague of urinating in the cell block and an interview room during his court appearance.
Two of the charges Montague faces carry prison terms of up to five years upon conviction, while the third carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan and was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and the Providence Police Department.
