West Virginia Librarian Arrested for Alleged Social Media Threat to Assassinate Trump
A 39-year-old librarian from a small town in West Virginia is now behind bars after authorities say she crossed a dangerous line on social media.
Morgan L. Morrow, who worked at the Jackson County Public Library in Ripley, was arrested late last week and charged with one count of making terroristic threats. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department says the trouble started when she posted a video online—reportedly on platforms like TikTok or Instagram—that they interpreted as an attempt to recruit people to target and assassinate President Donald Trump.
The caption that really set off alarm bells read something along the lines of: “Surely a sniper with a terminal illness cannot be a big ask out of 343 million.” According to investigators and reports, the post seemed designed to inspire or encourage others to act on violent ideas against the president. Some commenters even piled on, throwing around names of other figures like Stephen Miller, Larry Ellison, and Peter Thiel as additional targets.
Sheriff Ross Mellinger put it bluntly in one interview: “When you saddle up on the horse of stupidity, you have to be prepared for the ride that follows.” The department stressed that this isn’t about politics—it’s an active criminal investigation into something they see as genuinely troubling.
During questioning, Morrow reportedly admitted she wrote and posted the statement herself, and that it was meant as a threat aimed at Trump. She mentioned having personal reasons for feeling that way toward the president, but insisted she had no intention of carrying anything out herself. Police countered that doesn’t matter—words posted publicly can still encourage or inspire someone else to act, even if the person saying them never planned to follow through.
“We’re just trying to do our part in making sure that it’s not acted upon,” the sheriff told reporters, “and there’s no one following in her footsteps to try to carry out the plan.”
The library quickly put out a statement distancing itself:
“The comments recently made by an employee do not reflect the mission, values, or standards of conduct of our organization. We take our responsibilities to the public and our supporters seriously and are committed to professionalism, respect, and integrity in all that we do. The views expressed are made in an individual capacity and do not represent the position of the organization. We are addressing the matter internally in accordance with our established policies and procedures.”
Some reports indicate Morrow is no longer employed there.
This all comes against the backdrop of real threats President Trump has faced over the years—everything from thwarted plots during his first term to the serious incident at a 2024 Pennsylvania rally where he was grazed by a bullet, a spectator was killed, and the shooter died. Authorities take any call for violence against a president extremely seriously, especially when it spreads online and could motivate unstable people.
The investigation is still ongoing, with more details expected as they gather evidence. Morrow was held on a $75,000 bond at the South Central Regional Jail.
It’s a stark reminder of how fast online rhetoric can escalate into legal trouble—and why law enforcement watches these platforms so closely these days.
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