A Virginia man has been sentenced to federal prison after repeatedly posting violent threats online against U.S. President Donald Trump and his family. Federal investigators said the threats were made on social media and referenced a previous assassination attempt against the president. Authorities treated the case seriously due to the potential danger and the suspect’s past history of making similar threats.
Virginia Man Sentenced for Threatening U.S. President Donald Trump
A 41-year-old man named Valeriy Kouznetsov has been sentenced to prison for repeatedly threatening Donald Trump and members of his family.
According to federal authorities, Rossie D. Alston ordered Kouznetsov to serve 27 months in a federal prison. After finishing his prison term, he will also face three years of supervised release.
Kouznetsov pleaded guilty to one count of making threatening interstate communications. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped another count of the same charge along with a separate charge of threatening the president.
Secret Service Investigated Social Media Threats
The investigation began after agents from the United States Secret Service discovered threatening posts on the social media platform X.
Authorities identified a user account named @VVKTsar, which allegedly posted multiple violent messages targeting the president and other government officials.
One message posted on April 17, 2025, included a direct threat and used insulting language about the president. Investigators later found several similar posts published in the weeks before that message.
Threats Referred to 2024 Assassination Attempt
One of the posts from March 28, 2025, referenced the assassination attempt against President Trump during a campaign rally in Butler on July 13, 2024.
In that message, the user warned that Trump would “pay dearly” and mentioned security for the president’s family. Authorities said the wording suggested the possibility of another attack.
Other posts also contained violent statements about harming the president and additional government officials. Investigators said the repeated threats raised serious security concerns.
Investigators Traced Account to Virginia
Authorities were able to link the social media account to Kouznetsov through digital records.
Investigators found that the account was connected to an email address registered with login activity linked to an IP address in Reston.
Court records show that Kouznetsov previously lived in Reston before moving to South Carolina in 2025.
Based on this evidence, federal investigators concluded that he was responsible for posting the threats.
Suspect Previously Threatened the President
Court documents revealed that Kouznetsov had previously been convicted for threatening Trump.
In 2020, he attempted to approach the Trump International Hotel Washington D.C. after jumping security barriers. Authorities said he told security staff that he planned to kill the president.
Investigators said he described violent plans, including stabbing Trump and attacking the hotel.
He was later convicted in federal court and sentenced in 2022 to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Another Arrest Near the White House
Authorities also reported that Kouznetsov had another encounter with police in April 2023 outside the White House.
During that incident, he reportedly told officers he had a meeting arranged with the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation by then-president Joe Biden.
Officers later arrested him for possessing a controlled substance and violating the conditions of his supervised release. His supervised release was revoked and he received an additional prison sentence of one year and one day.
