College Students ‘Threaten’ Trump Before Rally

Three University of South Alabama students were arrested and charged after federal authorities accused them of posting threats against President Donald Trump ahead of his campaign rally on campus.

The students were identified as Amare Jemal Woods, Cameron Lamark Lewis and Kayla Leaann Smith.

All three were taken into custody Friday, Oct. 2, as Trump traveled to Mobile, Alabama, for a rally at the university’s Mitchell Center.

Federal court affidavits allege that the students made separate threatening statements on social media in the days leading up to the president’s visit.

Authorities said the alleged threats were not connected to one another.

Woods, an 18-year-old freshman, is accused of responding to a TikTok post about Trump’s upcoming appearance by writing, “he gotta die bro.”

The post was allegedly made Sept. 27.

Woods’ attorney, Jason Darley, has argued that the comment was made in poor taste but was not a serious plan to harm the president.

Darley described his client as a recent high school graduate and said he does not believe Woods posed an actual threat.

He also acknowledged that the Secret Service takes threats against the president extremely seriously, especially with Trump scheduled to appear on the same campus where Woods was enrolled.

Lewis is accused of making two threatening posts on X.

According to federal filings, one message referenced the 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Another allegedly referenced the fatal shooting of Chicago rapper BloodHound Q50.

Authorities say the posts were made Sept. 26.

Smith is accused of posting a threatening response on TikTok two days before Trump’s rally.

According to investigators, she wrote, “We only got one chance let’s take it,” along with an image showing someone appearing to mimic holding a firearm.

Federal prosecutors charged all three students with threatening the president.

The offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison if convicted.

The arrests came as Trump, 80, arrived in Mobile for the political rally.

A federal judge ordered the students held while the president was in the area, with detention hearings scheduled for Monday.

Darley said he understood the decision to keep the students in custody during Trump’s visit but argued that the alleged posts should not automatically be viewed as evidence of an actual plot.

“I don’t honestly think any of these three are threats,” he said.

Darley also said Woods’ case is still in its early stages and that he hopes to secure his release at the upcoming hearing.

It was not immediately clear whether Lewis and Smith had obtained attorneys.

The University of South Alabama released a statement condemning the alleged threats.

The school said it supports open political debate and civic participation but stressed that there is a clear difference between free expression and unlawful threats or intimidation.

“The University of South Alabama unequivocally condemns any form of threats directed at elected officials or any individual with whom we disagree,” the university said.