A Colorado man has been arrested by the FBI after plotting to firebomb the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump, potentially facing up to 20 years in prison for his actions.
At a Glance
- Joseph Neumayer, 28, a dual U.S.-German citizen from Colorado, was deported from Israel after allegedly attempting to firebomb the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv
- Israeli police arrested Neumayer after he reportedly spat on an embassy guard and left behind a backpack containing three Molotov cocktails
- Authorities discovered Neumayer had posted violent threats on social media, including plans to “burn down the embassy,” “death to America,” and threats to assassinate President Trump
- If convicted, Neumayer faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
- The incident occurred during the ongoing 19-month conflict in Gaza and follows a separate attack where two Israeli embassy staff were killed in Washington DC
Embassy Attack and Arrest Details
Joseph Neumayer, a 28-year-old dual U.S.-German citizen from Colorado, was apprehended by FBI agents at New York’s JFK Airport after being deported from Israel. Israeli authorities arrested Neumayer at his hotel following a May 19 incident at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, where he allegedly spat on a security guard and abandoned a backpack containing three Molotov cocktails near the facility. The suspect had arrived in Israel in April after traveling from the United States to Canada in February.
Court documents reveal that Neumayer’s actions were part of a planned attack on U.S. government facilities abroad. Upon arrival in the United States, he appeared in court the same day as his deportation. His court-appointed attorney, Jeff Dahlberg, has declined to comment on the case. The charges stem from not only the attempted firebombing but also from a pattern of threatening behavior directed at U.S. interests and officials.
A 28-year-old man was arrested for allegedly trying to firebomb the U.S. embassy branch in Tel Aviv, Israel, earlier this month and making threats against President Trump, federal prosecutors said Sunday. https://t.co/mUDm30NKyQ
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 25, 2025
Threats Against President Trump and America
Federal investigators discovered that Neumayer had posted numerous violent and alarming threats on social media platforms. These included explicit plans to “burn down the embassy,” calls for “death to America,” and direct threats to assassinate President Donald Trump. The social media trail provided substantial evidence for authorities to build their case against the Colorado native, demonstrating what prosecutors describe as clear intent to harm American interests and government officials.
“This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump’s life”, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated in the official announcement of charges.
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned Neumayer’s actions in the strongest terms, calling them “despicable and violent.” The Director further emphasized that such behavior would face the full force of American justice: “This despicable and violent behavior will not be tolerated at home or abroad, and the FBI, working with our partners, will bring him to face justice for his dangerous actions.”
A far-left extremist suspect has been arrested after allegedly traveling to Israel and attempting to firebomb the local office of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Joseph Neumeyer, 28, a dual U.S. and German national from Colorado, traveled to Israel in April.
On May 19, Neumeyer… pic.twitter.com/I1VSjEFvSY
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) May 26, 2025
Potential Consequences and Broader Context
If convicted on all charges, Neumayer faces severe legal consequences including a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and fines up to $250,000. The Department of Justice and FBI officials have publicly stated their commitment to prosecuting the case to the fullest extent permitted by law, signaling the seriousness with which federal authorities view threats against American diplomatic facilities and government officials.
“The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law”, Attorney General Pamela Bondi affirmed.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of regional tensions and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has now lasted 19 months. It also follows a separate tragic incident where a gunman killed two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington DC. In that attack, victims Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were shot outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, reportedly shouted “free Palestine” after the shooting, indicating possible politically motivated violence targeting Israeli interests in the United States.
