Gay Christian podcaster and LGBTQ+ activist Benjamin Azariah Southworth has been arrested in Los Angeles after being federally indicted over alleged threats against US President Donald Trump and harassment targeting one of Trump’s former personal lawyers and his family.
Southworth, 40, faces three federal charges: threatening the President, cyberstalking, and making harassing interstate telephone calls.
The charges remain allegations, and Southworth is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Prosecutors Allege Repeated Threats Against Trump
According to the federal indictment, Southworth used Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and a website between January and May 2026 to post messages and videos expressing hostility towards Trump and his supporters.
Prosecutors allege several posts went beyond political criticism and contained explicit calls for Trump to be killed.
The indictment also cites a private message from January in which Southworth allegedly said he would not “waste the opportunity” if he were able to kill Trump.
Federal prosecutors say threats against the President are criminal offences and have emphasised that political speech does not provide legal protection for what they allege were genuine threats of violence.
Lawyer And Family Also Allegedly Targeted
Southworth is separately accused of cyberstalking an attorney who had served as Trump’s personal lawyer.
Prosecutors allege he posted the lawyer’s home address and photographs of both the lawyer and the residence online, accompanied by language encouraging followers to confront him.
The indictment further alleges Southworth left abusive online messages and voicemails for the lawyer’s son and made harassing calls to the lawyer’s wife.
Those allegations form the basis of the cyberstalking and interstate harassment charges.
Southworth Has Long Been Part Of LGBTQ+ Christian Media
Southworth came out as gay in 2008 after previously working in Christian television.
He later became known for Yass, Jesus!, a queer-affirming Christian comedy podcast co-hosted with actor Daniel Franzese. The show described itself as exploring the idea that people do not have to choose between being gay and having a Christian faith, and it received a GLAAD Media Award nomination.
Southworth has also described himself as a survivor of five years of conversion therapy and has used his platform to criticise Christian nationalism and anti-LGBTQ+ religious movements.
One of the videos cited in the court case reportedly referenced his conversion-therapy experience before he allegedly made threats against Trump.
That background may help explain the political and religious context of his commentary, but it does not alter the seriousness of the federal allegations.
Up To 12 Years If Convicted
Southworth faces a maximum of five years in federal prison on the charge of threatening the President, another five years for cyberstalking and up to two years for harassing telephone calls.
The FBI and US Secret Service are investigating the case.
For LGBTQ+ communities, the story sits at an uncomfortable intersection of queer activism, religious trauma and political extremism.
Opposition to anti-LGBTQ+ policies — even fierce opposition — remains fundamentally different from alleged threats of violence. Advocacy for queer rights does not require, or justify, threatening political figures or their families.
