An 18-year-old Tewksbury man is facing a federal charge for allegedly threatening to kill President Trump, after investigators say he sent an Instagram message with a photo of a rifle and the words “it's time” and “im gonna kill trump.” Trenton Touch now also faces state firearm charges after officers say they found a revolver-style handgun and ammunition inside his family's Grasshopper Lane home.
Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for Massachusetts say the threatening message was sent on Instagram, according to NBC Boston. The station reported that Touch has been charged federally with making a threat against the president. As first reported by CBS News Boston, the Tewksbury teen is accused of threatening President Trump.
According to court documents cited by MassLive, the investigation traces back to June 21, 2026, when prosecutors allege Touch sent a photo of a gun in a direct message on Instagram along with threatening language aimed at the president. The outlet reports that authorities opened their probe on Sept. 10, after law enforcement was alerted to four Instagram accounts posting violent and threatening content.
Search Warrant Turns Up Handgun at Grasshopper Lane Home
The Tewksbury Police Department says a search warrant was served at Touch's Grasshopper Lane residence on Oct. 26 as part of the investigation into online threats. Officers reported finding a revolver-style handgun and ammunition, and said Touch did not have a proper Firearms Identification Card. Police charged him with possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and improper storage of a firearm, per the same account.
Reports differ on exactly when Touch was taken into custody. The Lowell Sun reported he was arrested on Oct. 26, 2026, following an FBI-led search of his home, while MassLive reported, citing court documents, that he was arrested on Oct. 29. Tewksbury police say Touch was arraigned in Lowell District Court and held on $50,000 cash bail, with home confinement and GPS monitoring required if bail is posted.
Allegations, Penalties, and the Presumption of Innocence
The core federal allegation remains the threat against the president tied to the Instagram message and rifle image.
Under federal law, a knowing and willful threat against the president carries a fine, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, according to the U.S. Code. MassLive reports the charge Touch faces carries a possible sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Tewksbury police emphasized that the case remains an open investigation and that Touch has not been convicted of anything. “These are allegations. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” the department said in its statement announcing the arrest and charges.
