Atkins escalated further, posting, “Bullets, please. Please Jesus! Save America,” alongside a meme calling inauguration day a “day of mourning.” When questioned by police, he admitted to making the posts but dismissed them as “jokes.”

Authorities Take Threats Seriously

West Palm Beach Police Chief Tony Araujo rejected Atkins’s claims of humor. “This is not a joke,” he said in a press briefing. “In today’s climate, threats like these cannot be ignored. We have seen too many cases where online rhetoric turns into real violence.”

Atkins is currently being held at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Detention Center on charges of drug possession and making written or electronic threats to kill, injure, or commit terrorism, a second-degree felony. Federal charges could follow, pending review by the Secret Service, which monitors threats against the president.

Broader Concerns Over Political Threats Online

This case is part of a troubling pattern. In August, authorities in Arizona arrested Ronald Lee Syvrud, a convicted sex offender, for issuing death threats against Trump. These incidents highlight growing concerns over violent political rhetoric online, with law enforcement struggling to differentiate genuine threats from provocative statements in an era where social media amplifies every voice.

Despite debates over free speech, authorities stress that threats—joking or not—will be met with legal action. “Public figures cannot be put in danger due to reckless online rhetoric,” Chief Araujo stated.

The arrest has sparked debate on social media, with some applauding law enforcement’s swift response while others question whether the suspect truly intended harm. Regardless, officials emphasize that in today’s volatile political climate, every threat is taken seriously.