Tempe High School Educator Charged With Threatening Donald Trump Jr. and Charlie Kirk

By Staff Reporter |

Tempe authorities have arrested 24-year-old Daniel Ashpes for allegedly threatening Donald Trump Jr. and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during a recent political rally. The arrest took place on Thursday, October 17, following an investigation that ensued after the Tempe Police Department received reports of threatening messages sent via a mass messaging system.

According to the Tempe Police Department’s Facebook announcement, Ashpes was apprehended promptly after detectives established probable cause. In an interview with investigators, he confessed to sending the threatening messages in response to an automated RSVP invitation for the rally held in a Tempe hotel.

The specific content of Ashpes’s threats remains undisclosed. He faces multiple misdemeanor charges, including three counts of threatening physical harm and one count of using a phone for intimidation. These charges carry potential penalties of up to six months in jail and fines reaching $2,500.

Originally from Irvine, California, Ashpes attended Arnold O. Beckman High School and has also lived in Portland, Oregon. His online presence has almost entirely vanished, as all social media profiles have been deleted, which limits understanding of his political views. Previously, he was a student teacher at Northern Arizona University and had been employed at Desert Vista High School since July.

Desert Vista High School informed parents about Ashpes’s administrative leave in light of the ongoing investigation. The school emphasized its commitment to maintaining a safe environment for students and stated that it does not tolerate any form of threats or harassment.

In a broader context, threats against public figures have gained attention following the reported assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump. In July, a shooting incident occurred during a rally in Pennsylvania, where one person was killed, and several others were injured. Another incident unfolded in September when a suspect was intercepted by the Secret Service while setting up near Trump’s golf course.

The Tempe Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ashpes’s arrest and will provide updates as necessary.