Illinois State University Teaching Assistant Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Donald Trump Weeks After Attacking Turning Point USA Table on Campus
An Illinois State University teaching assistant who once went viral for violently flipping over a Turning Point USA table on campus has been arrested again—this time on federal charges for allegedly threatening to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The suspect, identified by authorities as 27-year-old Derek Lopez, was taken into custody this week following a series of disturbing social media posts in which he allegedly vowed to “kill Donald Trump,” according to statements from the El Paso, Illinois Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service.
The arrest comes just months after Lopez was fired by the university for a separate incident in which he was filmed shouting obscenities and toppling a conservative student group’s information table during a campus event hosted by Turning Point USA. The footage, which quickly spread across social media, showed Lopez confronting students as he tore down their banner before storming off campus. The episode drew national outrage, sparking debates over academic conduct, political tolerance, and the growing hostility directed toward conservative organizations on college campuses.
According to newly released court documents, Lopez’s online activity escalated in recent weeks. Federal investigators say he used multiple social media accounts to issue violent threats toward Trump and his supporters, including a chilling post where he wrote, “I’m gonna kill Donald Trump.” Screenshots of the threats were flagged by users and forwarded to law enforcement, triggering an immediate investigation by the FBI and Secret Service. Officials confirmed that Lopez was apprehended without incident and is currently being held pending a preliminary court appearance.
Illinois State University has since issued a statement distancing itself from Lopez, emphasizing that he is “no longer employed” and that the university “condemns all forms of violence or threats of harm.” Turning Point USA also responded, saying the arrest “validates growing concerns about the radicalization and intolerance taking hold on college campuses.” A spokesperson for the organization told Fox News that “college administrators have looked the other way for too long while professors and staff members openly encourage hostility toward conservative students.”
Court filings reveal that Lopez’s case will likely be handled at the federal level given the nature of the alleged threats against a former president. Legal analysts note that such charges carry severe penalties under federal law, including potential prison time of up to five years for making interstate threats and even longer if prosecutors pursue terrorism-related enhancements.
The incident underscores an ongoing national concern over the rise of politically motivated threats and violence since 2020, with experts pointing to social media platforms as breeding grounds for hostility. As of October 2025, the Department of Justice has reported a 300% increase in threats against public officials, from local mayors to former presidents, as polarization continues to intensify across the U.S.
For now, Lopez remains in custody as authorities comb through his digital communications for evidence of intent or coordination. The case reignites a broader debate about free speech versus accountability, as the country continues to navigate the volatile intersection of politics, academia, and public safety.
