Benjamin Azariah Southworth, a 40-year-old Christian podcaster, was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday for allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump and making online threats against him. The charges include harassing telephone calls, cyberstalking, and threatening the president's life. According to court documents, Southworth made several online posts, including one that said "if I could kill him, I wouldn't waste the opportunity," in January 2025. This arrest is part of an effort by the Department of Justice to hold perpetrators of violent threats accountable.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Benjamin Azariah Southworth, a 40-year-old Christian podcaster, was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday morning for allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump and making harassing phone calls. Southworth, who hosts the podcast "Yass, Jesus!", is charged with cyberstalking, telephonic harassment, and threatening the President's life. If convicted, he could face up to 5 years in federal prison on each of the two charges related to threats against Trump. Southworth has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond. The arrest comes as part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice to crack down on online threats against public officials, with Attorney General Todd Blanche stating that "we will hold perpetrators of violent threats accountable".
Written for “Threat Against Donald Trump” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 6380: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-07
A Christian podcaster was seen grimacing at a photographer as he was placed under arrest for allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump and calling for his execution.
uncertain
he → see → execution
Benjamin Azariah Southworth, 40, was taken into custody in Los Angeles on Thursday morning and charged with harassing telephone calls, cyberstalking and threatening the President's life.
asserted
Southworth → take → life
As the Yass, Jesus! podcaster was escorted from his Westlake apartment in handcuffs, Southworth was seen with a menacing facial expression as he stared down a photographer capturing the moment.
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he → escort → moment
'As threats against President Trump’s life escalate, the Department of Justice will respond with the full force of the law,' said Attorney General Todd Blanche.
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Blanche → escalate → law
We will hold perpetrators of violent threats accountable, and anyone who makes these threats online will not be allowed to hide behind their screens.'
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who → hold → screens
The podcaster, a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights who came out as gay in 2008, was accused of publishing videos and sharing messages on social media to 'express his hatred toward President Trump and the President’s supporters.'
'Southworth used these online platforms to publicly engage in and encourage the abuse and harassment of the President and to threaten violence against the President,' the Central District of California United States Attorneys' Office said.
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Office → come → California
On April 7 earlier this year, Southworth allegedly posted a video to Instagram featuring a series of threats against the President including: 'I have been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump' and 'This government is illegitimate and out of control.
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government → post → control
It’s time for course correction.
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It → ’ → correction
Benjamin Azariah Southworth, 40, was taken into custody in Los Angeles on Thursday morning and charged with harassing telephone calls, cyberstalking and threatening the president's life
The podcaster, a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights who came out as gay in 2008, was accused of publishing videos and sharing messages on social media to 'express his hatred toward President Trump and the President’s supporters'
According to court documents obtained by the LA Times, Southworth also sent text messages that said 'but if I could kill him, I wouldn't waste the opportunity' in January 2025
Southworth also allegedly published the home address of an attorney who had served as Trump's personal lawyer, along with a photo of the victim and a photo of their home, three months prior, according to the Attorneys' Office.
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who → take → Office
The TikTok post was allegedly accompanied by the words, 'No peace for traitors.'
First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said that 'there is zero tolerance for political violence, especially for threats directed at the President.'
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Essayli → accompany → President
'Threatening an elected official with violence is a serious offense, and you will be arrested and charged as Mr Southworth found out this morning,' he added.
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he → threaten → violence
On the Holy Menace Instagram account, which has since been de-activated, Southworth posted a video of himself on March 31 saying, 'Since the [United States] Supreme Court has ruled today that psychological, spiritual, emotional and physical torture known as gay conversion therapy is free speech, I want to practice my free speech as a survivor of conversion therapy for five years,' the indictment obtained by the Los Angeles Times said.
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indictment → de → Times
That same day, the Supreme Court had ruled that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youths violated the 1st Amendment's free-speech, the outlet reported.
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outlet → rule → speech
That’s all,' the podcaster allegedly said in the video.
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podcaster → ’ → video
Southworth also appears to sell stickers that feature a mouse with big eyes and bows accompanied by the phrase 'Kill Trump,' the website Holy Menace HQ, seen, shows
On April 7, Southworth allegedly posted a video and said: 'I have been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump' and 'This government is illegitimate and out of control.
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government → appear → control
It’s time for course correction.
asserted
It → ’ → correction
Southworth, who is also a writer and former television presenter of 'The Remix,' also appears to sell stickers that feature a mouse with big eyes and bows accompanied by the phrase 'Kill Trump,' the website Holy Menace HQ shows.
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website → appear → Trump
According to court documents obtained by the Times, Southworth also sent text messages that said 'but if I could kill him, I wouldn't waste the opportunity' in January 2025.
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I → accord → January
Armando Marquez, Special Agent in Charge of the US Secret Service’s Los Angeles Field Office, said: 'The safety and security of those we protect is our highest priority, and we are committed to ensuring that anyone who threatens that – whether online or otherwise – will face justice.'
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who → say → justice
'Cyberstalking and threats of murder are not considered mere political rhetoric under the law, but are serious criminal offenses that lead to prosecution, as today’s arrest highlights,' Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, said.
If convicted, Southworth faces five years in federal prison for threatening the President, five years for cyberstalking and two years for telephonic harassment.
Southworth pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held without bond.
The Daily Mail reached out to the White House and Southworth for comment.
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Mail → consider → comment
