A woman who made graphic online threats to kidnap and assassinate President Donald Trump has been released from custody, despite earlier rulings deeming her a credible danger.
Nathalie Rose Jones, 50, of New York City, was arrested in August after travelling to Washington, D.C., where she reportedly told Secret Service agents she would attempt to murder the President if given the opportunity.
Federal prosecutors allege that Jones’s threats were not only persistent but also escalated in both frequency and severity — including a direct declaration that she would “sacrificially kill” the 79-year-old President using a bladed weapon.
Despite these threats, Jones was released on 27 August under a court order from Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg. The judge ruled that she could return home under electronic monitoring and must receive psychiatric treatment.
This decision came just days after U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya denied Jones bond outright, citing the seriousness and credibility of her threats. The release has triggered concern among officials and members of the public.
Court filings reveal that authorities had been monitoring Jones’ activity since 2 August. Her now-deleted social media posts reportedly featured detailed and violent fantasies about assassinating President Trump and attacking members of the government.
In one Facebook post on 6 August, Jones wrote:
“I literally told FBI in five states today that I am willing to sacrificially kill this POTUS by disemboweling him and cutting out his trachea with Liz Cheney and all The Affirmation present. Let’s deal with this and restore domestic tranquility.”
In another post dated 14 August, Jones called on then-Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to initiate a public arrest of President Trump, referencing a planned demonstration outside the White House that weekend.
“Please arrange the arrest and removal ceremony of POTUS Trump as a terrorist on the American People from 10-2pm at the White House on Saturday, August 16th, 2025,” she wrote, according to the Department of Justice.
Following that post, Jones voluntarily met with Secret Service agents. According to the criminal complaint, she confirmed her intentions to them and said she would follow through with the plan “if given the opportunity.”
Investigators say Jones also made several references to “the compound” and labelled Trump a “terrorist” and “nazi.” Her stated motive, according to court documents, was to avenge the deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — which she appeared to blame on Trump personally.
She was arrested near the White House on 16 August after attending a protest. Authorities charged her with multiple federal offences including threatening to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm on the President, as well as transmitting interstate threats via electronic communication.
Jones’s past includes a long-documented history of mental illness, including schizophrenia, which her friends and supporters cited in court as a mitigating factor. They insisted that, while she has struggled with mental health issues for years, she has never been physically violent.
The Department of Justice has not commented publicly on Judge Boasberg’s decision, but newly appointed D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro issued a strong statement after the arrest:
“Threatening the life of the President is one of the most serious crimes and one that will be met with swift and unwavering prosecution. Make no mistake — justice will be served.”
Jones is now awaiting trial. If convicted, she could face several years in federal prison. Under 18 U.S. Code § 871, threatening the President of the United States carries a maximum sentence of five years per count — though prosecutors may seek enhancements due to her travel to D.C. and her direct admission of intent.
Critics have expressed concern over her release, particularly given the high-profile nature of the threat and her admission of willingness to carry out the act. Some legal commentators have questioned whether the mental health condition was weighed too heavily against the clear danger posed by the threats.
No statement has been made by the Trump campaign or by Secret Service officials regarding the decision to release Jones. President Trump has not commented publicly on the incident.
The case is expected to go to trial later this year.
