Valeriy Kouznetsov, 41, from Virginia, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison plus three years supervised release for repeatedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump and his family on X (formerly Twitter).
Threatening Posts
From March to April 2025, the @VVKTsar account posted violent messages, including vows that Trump would “pay dearly” with his family’s security in a “7/13 Secret Service repeat” (referencing the July 13, 2024, Butler rally attempt), calls to “murder all of you filthy rats,” and demands for Trump’s family to beg for mercy. The account, traced via IP to Reston, Virginia, and email [email protected], also targeted other officials.
Criminal History
Kouznetsov pleaded guilty to interstate threatening communications; two other counts were dismissed. In 2020, he was convicted for threats to stab Trump, behead him, and bomb Trump International Hotel after breaching barriers, earning 27 months. A 2023 White House incident led to revoked supervised release and another year in prison for drugs and violations.
Sentencing
U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston imposed the term on Wednesday in the Eastern District of Virginia, noting Kouznetsov’s pattern after relocating to South Carolina. Secret Service investigations linked the posts to his prior rhetoric.
