Lake County man gets 3-year prison sentence for threatening to kill Trump, other public officials

A Lake County man was sentenced to three years and two months in federal prison for threatening to kill multiple public officials, including President Donald Trump.

Trent Schneider, 58, of Winthrop Harbor, was arrested Oct. 21, 2025, after posting a video on a social media site stating his disdain for public officials, doctors, lawyers and public safety personnel. In the video he says, “they all should be killed” and threatens to “get some guns” before singling Trump out specifically.

That same day, Schneider had appeared at the Lake County courthouse and told a judge presiding over his foreclosure case that he “would burn the courthouse down,” according to court records.

A federal jury convicted Schneider in March of threatening public officials.

Schneider faced up to five years in prison after being convicted.