Lake County Man Convicted Of Threatening To Kill Trump, Other Officials

CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted Trent Schneider, 58, of Winthrop Harbor, of making threats to kill multiple public officials, including President Donald J. Trump.

Schneider was found guilty of “making a true threat in interstate commerce to injure a person” following a three-day trial in U.S. District Court, according to a news release from Northern District of Illinois. The conviction carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

According to prosecutors, on Oct. 21, 2025, Schneider posted a video on Instagram in which he ranted about judges, police, doctors and lawyers, saying they “should all be killed” and that he planned to obtain guns to “take care of business” himself. He also directly threatened President Trump in the video, according to a news release.

On the same day, Schneider appeared at a Lake County courthouse and told the judge handling his foreclosure case that he would burn the courthouse down, according to prosecutors.

U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros said the conviction sends a message that threatening elected officials and judges is a serious crime.

“Let this conviction send a clear message that it is never acceptable to threaten a political figure or a member of the judiciary,” Boutros said. “Political violence is not only intolerable, but it is a serious crime. Working closely with our law enforcement partners, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will find, arrest, and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those responsible for criminally threatening the safety of our elected officials and judges.”