Librarian Asked ‘Sniper’ to Kill Trump in Disturbing Social Media Post

A small-town librarian from West Virginia is at the center of a national firestorm after investigators say she tried to recruit strangers online to assassinate President Donald Trump.

Morgan L. Morrow, 39, of Ripley, was arrested Sunday night and charged with making a terroristic threat. Authorities say her alleged scheme unfolded across social media, where she recorded videos asking Americans to step forward and take out the sitting president.

Sheriff R.H. Mellinger didn’t mince words when announcing the arrest. “This was not a joke. This was not political theater,” he said. “We are dealing with explicit and documented calls for violence against the President of the United States.”

The librarian reportedly used attention-grabbing captions to attract recruits. One video, widely circulated, read: “Surely a sniper with a terminal illness cannot be a big ask out of 343 million.”

The sheriff said the wording raised immediate red flags. “This was active recruitment,” an investigator told us. “She wasn’t ranting. She was strategizing.”

Law enforcement sources say they first learned about the videos after they were exposed by the account Libs of TikTok. The posts quickly exploded across conservative media, sparking outrage and demands for an investigation.

Officials say the rhetoric didn’t stop with Trump. Commenters on Morrow’s Instagram post encouraged attacks on White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and tech figures Larry Ellison and Peter Thiel.

A federal law-enforcement official familiar with the case said the online comments are “part of a disturbing trend.”

“We’ve seen an uptick in individuals—especially women—being pulled into online echo chambers that glamorize political violence,” the official said. “This isn’t activism. This is extremism.”

While the Justice Department has not released details, a Secret Service spokesperson confirmed the agency is “aware of the incident and monitoring all credible threats” against President Trump.

A Homeland Security analyst who spoke on background said calls for assassinations have historically risen during periods of political tension. “But directing the public to ‘step up’ and do the job is another level,” he said. “That crosses into operational planning.”

Morrow worked at the Jackson County Public Library, a place known more for summer reading programs than national controversy. Library leadership scrambled to distance themselves from her alleged actions.

In a statement Sunday night, the library wrote: “The comments recently made by an employee do not reflect our mission or values. We take our responsibility to our supporters seriously. The views expressed were entirely in an individual capacity.”

Residents in Ripley say they’re stunned.

“She checked out books to my kids,” said one mother outside the library Monday morning. “I never imagined she’d be posting assassination requests online. It’s terrifying.”

A local Trump supporter described the situation as “a warning about where political hate leads.” He added: “It starts with angry posts. Then one day someone decides to act on them.”

Sheriff Mellinger says investigators are now combing through Morrow’s devices, online activity, and communications. Officials want to know whether she acted alone or if anyone signaled willingness to carry out her request.

“We’re taking nothing at face value,” the sheriff said. “When someone solicits an assassin, we have to assume intent.”

Morrow is currently being held on one felony count while prosecutors determine whether federal charges will follow.

As of Monday afternoon, neither the White House nor President Trump has issued a public statement. A senior administration official, however, told us privately: “This is exactly why the President continues to push for stronger penalties for political violence. If someone tries to crowdsource an assassin, Americans deserve to know there will be consequences.”