Douglas Thrams, a 23-year-old man from Goshen, Indiana, has been arrested for allegedly using TikTok to incite attacks on the government and call for the death of former US President Donald Trump, according to the Associated Press, citing the FBI.
Authorities stated that Thrams posted a series of threatening videos on the platform this week.
He is currently in custody and is scheduled for a court appearance on Monday in federal court in South Bend. Thrams has not yet secured an attorney to address the charge of using interstate commerce to make threats.
His response
In one TikTok video, Douglas Thrams stated that Trump needed to be killed “and this time don’t … miss,” according to FBI agent Taylor Pletz in a court filing. The comment appeared to reference an assassination attempt on Trump last July in Pennsylvania.
Pletz further noted, “In all videos, he is visible, audible and identifiable.”
TikTok was initially set to be banned in the US starting Sunday, but Trump paused the ban for 75 days to allow his new administration time to assess national security risks and explore a potential American buyer for the app. Following the extension from President Donald Trump, TikTok’s Chinese parent company now has just over two months to find a buyer for its US operations or face a nationwide ban. There is already competition for ownership.
Meanwhile, TikTok began restoring its services on Sunday, after President-elect Trump’s pledge to reinstate the app when he takes office on Monday. “Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it,” Trump said at a rally ahead of his inauguration, adding that the US would pursue a joint venture to preserve the app, which is used by 170 million Americans.
Hours before the rally, TikTok informed users, stating, “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the US.” Earlier, users reported that while the TikTok app had started returning with basic services, the app was unavailable for download in US app stores late on Sunday.
