KNOXVILLE, TN - An unhinged Tennessee man who threatened to kill President Donald Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, and several local officials was arrested by the FBI last week, Law & Crime reports. In an unhinged TikTok rant, Garry Lee Williams, 44, warned that Trump should “step down” or “get layed [sic] down.” Clearly, an English scholar.
Williams was charged with one count of transmitting interstate threats to kill public officials, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee announced in a press release.
An initial appearance was held on Friday, July 17, 2026, at United States District Court in Knoxville. A preliminary hearing is set for August 25, 2026, with a trial to be held at a later date.
In an FBI affidavit supporting the complaint, FBI agents received a tip about Williams in May that he had been posting threats against government officials and their children on TikTok. Investigators tied the account to Williams, who has a criminal history that includes convictions for aggravated robbery and aggravated assaults.
Besides the president and FBI director, Williams’ threats also included Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler, Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel, and others.
One post directed at the president read, “President Trump I’m gonna get you and all your buddies…I want your heads off your shoulders, send all law enforcement you want to they can go too.”
In a video posted to the site, Williams said, “have fun in the grave,” while adding, “I’ll have my machete.”
In another post, Williams warned public officials, saying, “All you corrupt politicians on this list kiss your family goodbye…Look over ur shoulders day and night, worry about ur kids or grandkids at school not knowing if I’m around. I will get justice either through court or myself putting you in the grave.”
Such rantings of a lunatic are not surprising given the divisive rhetoric emanating from the political left, which includes painting the president as “fascist” and a “Nazi,” which is ironic considering that up until recently, most high-profile Democrats were supporting an actual Nazi in the Maine Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
Another rant posted in March said, “kill President Trump, CIA, FBI Kash Patel” and “Death to all you cowards.”
Another post suggested that Trump and Patel “should be hung or firing squad,” adding, “Kill them all…step down president Trump or get layed [sic] down.”
The affidavit also said Williams threatened President Trump’s family, with one post stating, “Trump better wear you a vest…son Barron I like his he wears as well,” then adding, “Y’all didn’t care bout me or my kids so its f-u and your kids.”
Again, a stone-cold wordsmith.
Another post from January was described by investigators as escalating beyond threats against officials themselves. In that post, Williams wrote, “This isn’t a threat it’s a promise,” while warning that federal facilities, courthouses, college campuses and places of worship would be forced to close, then telling officials to “kiss your kids goodbye.”
In yet another video, Williams suggested others help to kill police officers, judges, politicians, federal agents, and other government officials, promising to “lead the way” if he had guns and ammunition and would begin with local Knox County officials, the sheriff and police chief.
“Just kidding!” That was the position Williams took when confronted with investigators about the posts. While he acknowledged making the statements, he denied he ever planned to actually carry them out, although insisting that public officials “need to be held accountable,” Law & Crime reported.
Williams appeared to be a homeless person who was living out of his vehicle.
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