The latest case involving alleged threats against President Donald Trump is raising a lot of questions, and it’s another reminder of how seriously law enforcement treats any statements that could be interpreted as threats against a current or former president.
According to reporting from Andy Ngo, authorities in Raleigh, North Carolina, arrested 33-year-old Christopher Key-Torrion Carnes of Georgia after an investigation that reportedly involved social media videos, alleged threats directed at Trump, and the discovery of suspicious materials inside a vehicle.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Meet the most recent man accused of threatening to assassinate President Trump.
Christopher Carnes posted repeated death threats and videos of what he claimed were IEDs meant for the President.
I found the videos that triggered the federal case. WATCH and read:… pic.twitter.com/BBNbpWh5vF
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) June 22, 2026
The story began attracting attention after Carnes allegedly posted a series of videos to Facebook between May and June. Investigators later compared items shown in those videos to materials they say were discovered during a search of his Dodge Charger. According to reports, authorities found PVC pipes and metal pins that appeared similar to objects Carnes had displayed online.
The News & Observer reported that Carnes had been living out of his car while staying in Raleigh. He reportedly told people he had traveled from Georgia to attend church. Reports also indicated that he had been prescribed medication for ADHD and sleep-related issues but was not taking it because he said the medication upset his stomach.
What’s striking is that police had apparently encountered Carnes before his arrest. Officers reportedly spoke with him in a Target parking lot in May, but no arrest was made at that time.
The situation changed on June 10.
According to reports, Carnes voluntarily appeared at the Raleigh Police Department’s Investigative Division and allegedly informed officers that there was a warrant for his arrest. Authorities say his behavior then became erratic, prompting further attention from investigators.
A search of his vehicle followed.
That search reportedly became even more significant after a police dog alerted officers to the possible presence of explosive materials. Investigators say they found devices matching items shown in Carnes’ social media videos.
Videos later circulated online allegedly showed Carnes speaking directly to Trump. In one clip, he identified himself by name and date of birth while making profane statements directed at the president. Another portion reportedly showed him opening the trunk of his vehicle and displaying what he referred to as a “PVC blaster.”
Authorities viewed the videos as serious enough to support criminal charges.
Carnes is currently being held on $500,000 bail.
