On August 8, 2022, agents from the FBI searched the Mar-A-Lago property of former President Donald Trump. In the wake of the search, antigovernment extremists, neo-Nazis, ad white supremacists have reacted strongly, with many threatening violence or a second Civil War. In the immediate aftermath of the news of the raid breaking, The MEMRI DTTM published a report on extremist reactions and threats which were made towards those involved. This report is available here.[1]
As the situation has developed in the days since the raid the identity of the judge who signed off on the search warrant has become public, and he has been subjected to personal threats on social media. Additionally, Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray have both been subjected to repeated threats from antigovernment extremists, and users on extremist platforms such as 4Chan and TheDonald have made explicit threats of violence against FBI agents and offices.
Many users have continued to suggest that this raid is the beginning of civil war and urged others to arm themselves and prepare for violence.
The following are excerpts from a larger DTTM report detailing threats against the FBI on social media, as well as threats against Attorney General Garland, FBI Director Wray, and the judge, Bruce Reinhardt.
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Extremists Make Threats Against Garland, The FBI, And Judge Reinhardt
On a pro-Trump, antigovernment forum, users threatened the FBI and Director Christopher Wray. One wrote a post reading, "Well Wray, you've fucked around for too long, and you and your f**got soyboys are about to find out. Keep pushing." Another user replied, writing simply "Accelerate" with three skull emojis, before later writing "Those f**gots will die for their treason. The only acceptable outcome for traitor filth. Fast trials, public executions. I will piss on their traitors graves."
On Gab, a white supremacist user condemned a Fox News article which states that threats were made on Gab against the FBI and against FBI Director Christopher Wray following the Mar-a-Lago raid.
Multiple users commented on the post with threats. One wrote: "Yea he's right, the answer is to stop talking and start stepping up…drag them all out by their bootstraps and hang them high!! I'm sick of this bullshit! We've all had enough!" A user added: "F Wray. Praying that the next mass shooting will be at FBI headquarters." Another replied: "Wray Will Pay."
A white supremacist posted on August 10 a meme that includes photos of Attorney General Merrick Garland and Judge Bruce Reinhart, who signed the warrant for the raid on Mar-a-Lago, with text calling them “Jewish secret police” and comparing them to the secret police under Lenin.
In the comments one user called for shooting both of Garland and Reinhardt.
On August 10 an anti-government extremist posted a meme showing Attorney General Merrick Garland, with text calling Garland public enemy number one. The user also claimed that a second civil war had begun.
An ultranationalist social media account shared on August 8 a video of Trump supporters at Mar-a-Lago. In the comments section users called for killing FBI agents and their families.
One user commented threatening FBI employees, their spouses, and their children.
Another use wrote that a civil war had started in the United States.
A social media account affiliated with anti-government extremist militia movement posted on August 9 a screenshot of a tweet by which called for dismantling the FBI. The account commented with a quotation calling for the killing of tyrants.
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