U.S. Federal Agents Nab Podcaster Azariah Over Alleged Threat to Kill Trump

Federal agents in the United States have arrested a 40-year-old podcaster and former Christian television host for allegedly issuing public threats to assassinate President Donald Trump and harassing the president’s personal attorney and his family.

In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California confirmed that the suspect, Benjamin Azariah Southworth, was taken into custody on Thursday, 3rd September 2026, by FBI agents who surrounded his apartment in the Westlake neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Southworth surrendered peacefully without incident and now faces three federal felony charges.

The Justice Department has indicted Southworth on charges related to threats against the president. Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement that threats against the president’s life are escalating and that the department will respond with the full force of the law. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli also stated that political violence threats will not be tolerated and that offenders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

According to court documents, Southworth, a native of Indiana, hosted the Christian youth programme The Remix in the late 2000s before coming out as gay in 2008 and later becoming an LGBTQ rights activist. Prosecutors allege that he used his website and social media accounts on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok to express hatred toward Trump and his supporters, posting videos calling for the president’s assassination.

The indictment states that on 31st March 2026, Southworth posted a video on his now-defunct Instagram account in which he said, “Take out Trump. Take out the damn pedophile in the White House. Take out the traitor who betrayed the U.S. Constitution.” He was referring to a Supreme Court ruling that day which held that a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth violated First Amendment free speech protections.

In the video, Southworth identified himself as a conversion therapy survivor and claimed he was exercising his own free speech rights in response to the ruling. Days later, he posted another video depicting himself standing behind Trump in the Oval Office and making a stabbing motion with a knife.

On 7th April, he posted another video stating he had been “publicly calling for the execution of Donald Trump” and saying the government was “illegal and out of control” and needed to be corrected. Court documents also reveal that in January 2025, he sent a private text message saying he would not waste the opportunity to kill Trump if he could.

Beyond threats against the president, prosecutors also accuse Southworth of targeting Trump’s personal attorney. Earlier this year, he allegedly published the attorney’s home address, photos of the residence and phone number on TikTok and other platforms, and left voicemail messages including a threat that “justice will come to your door.”

In April, after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Southworth commented on a livestream hosted by the attorney’s son, writing, “IF AT FIRST YOU FAIL TRY AGAIN.”

The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service have reiterated their zero-tolerance policy toward threats against the president. Southworth faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Essayli also confirmed that the investigation remains active and that authorities are continuing to examine the full scope of the defendant’s activities.