Wake DA drops state charges against man accused of threatening Trump

The Wake County District Attorney’s Office dropped charges against a South Carolina man who allegedly wrote on his car that he was going to kill President Donald Trump, court records show.

Daniel Rodney Swain, 41, was charged with communicating threats against the President on April 30, The News & Observer previously reported. An Apex car wash attendant called 911 to report the threats written on Swain’s BMW, according to a federal complaint.

The Apex Police Department charged Swain on April 30 with possession of methamphetamine, resisting a public officer and displaying a fictitious license plate.

The charges were dropped on May 4 because Swain was taken into federal custody, court records show.

Swain still faces the federal charge. If convicted, he could face up to five years in federal prison, The N&O previously reported.

This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 5:50 PM.

Twumasi Duah-Mensah

The News & Observer

(919) 283-1187

Twumasi Duah-Mensah is a Breaking News Reporter for The News & Observer. He began at The N&O as a summer intern on the metro desk. Triangle born and Tar Heel bred, Twumasi has bylines for WUNC, NC Health News and the Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media. Send him tips and good tea places at (919) 283-1187.