| Published May 3, 2025
Teacher stood by her comments in multiple follow-up posts
A Maine high school teacher, JoAnna St. Germain, is under investigation after making inflammatory Facebook posts suggesting that the U.S. Secret Service should “take out” former President Donald Trump and members of his administration. In her posts, St. Germain, an English teacher at Waterville High School, expressed that Trump and his supporters “need to die,” comparing him to Adolf Hitler and labeling his administration as a “fascist dictatorship.” She urged the Secret Service to act against those supporting what she described as Trump’s “illegal, immoral, unconstitutional acts.”
“The Secret Service has the perfect opportunity, if they choose to step up and take it,” Waterville Senior High School teacher JoAnna St. Germain wrote on Tuesday. “You are the ones with power. Coordinate. Take out every single person who supports Trump’s illegal, immoral, unconstitutional acts. Look at the sycophants and give them what they’re asking for. Every other country sees what’s happening and they are taking stands. If you step up, we can avoid a civil war.”
She added that she was “not talking about assassinating a president” because a president is “a person duly elected” while Trump is heading “a fascist dictatorship.”
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JoAnna St. Germain’s Facebook post. (Screenshot/Facebook)
“Secret Service, you are Americans. My beloved military, you are Americans. We, the people, are counting on you. If I had the skill set required, I would take them out myself. I’m making this post public for a reason, I promise you. Don’t waste time wondering if I’m okay. I’m not. If you’re okay, you’re lying to yourself,” she closed.
As of Thursday afternoon, the post remained public and pinned to the top of her Facebook page.
In several follow-up posts, St. Germain stood by her comments, saying that she was not attacking all Republicans or MAGA but Trump and “those in the room” with him. She also said that she was not afraid of losing her job and had no shame over the backlash.
“To be clear, publicly: I knew what I was doing when I did it. I’m not the least f—ing sorry,” she wrote in another post on Wednesday.
“I’m not backtracking a single thing. I believe Trump and every sycophant he has surrounded himself with (this is not you — if you’re reading this, this doesn’t apply to you. You are beneath his notice and mine) needs to die. I believe this with the same forceful belief that Hitler and his sycophants needed to die, before they murdered 6 million innocent Jewish persons,” one post read.
The Secret Service informed Fox News Digital that it was made aware of St. Germain’s post. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
The Waterville Police Department has confirmed an active investigation into the matter, collaborating with federal law enforcement and school officials to ensure community safety. In a subsequent post, St. Germain attempted to clarify her statements, asserting that her comments were directed at those within Trump’s administration rather than all Republicans. As of now, there have been no public statements from Waterville High School or the local school district regarding potential disciplinary actions.
In an email obtained by The Maine Wire, Waterville Public Schools Superintendent Peter Hallen informed parents that he was made aware of a social media post made by a faculty member and had “taken steps to ensure everyone’s safety” and will be “actively investigating the incident” with authorities.
This incident follows a similar controversy involving Maine State Representative Scott Hamann in 2017. Hamann faced backlash for a Facebook post containing profane language about President Trump and his supporters, including a statement that could be interpreted as a threat. The U.S. Secret Service investigated the matter and later cleared Hamann, though he was removed from his committee assignments by the House Speaker.
These events highlight ongoing tensions and the consequences of extreme political rhetoric, particularly when expressed by individuals in positions of public trust or influence.
The implications of the incident involving the Maine high school teacher who posted that Trump and his supporters “need to die” and that the Secret Service should “take him out” are serious and multifaceted:
1. Legal Implications
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Possible Federal Investigation: Threatening a former U.S. president, even indirectly or rhetorically, is a federal offense under 18 U.S. Code § 871. The Secret Service typically investigates such statements seriously, regardless of the speaker’s intent.
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Potential Criminal Charges: If authorities determine the posts constitute a credible threat, the teacher could face criminal charges.
2. Professional Consequences
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Job at Risk: As a public school teacher, St. Germain is held to a higher standard of conduct. Her comments may violate district policies on professional behavior and could lead to disciplinary action or termination, even if protected by the First Amendment.
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Loss of Trust: Such posts can undermine the trust students, parents, and the community place in educators, especially those teaching in politically diverse settings.
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3. Broader Social & Political Impact
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Escalation of Political Tensions: This incident feeds into the broader narrative of rising political hostility and polarization, and may further divide communities.
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Weaponization of Rhetoric: Publicly calling for violence, even in a personal post, can normalize extreme speech and lower the threshold for political discourse.
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Impact on Civility in Education: Educators are expected to foster respectful dialogue. A teacher publicly calling for death or violence contradicts that mission and could have chilling effects on open classroom discussions.
4. Free Speech Debate
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First Amendment Issues: While public employees do have free speech rights, the Supreme Court has ruled that those rights are limited when speech interferes with job performance or the operation of public institutions (e.g., Garcetti v. Ceballos).
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This case may reignite debates over how far free speech protections extend for public-sector workers expressing extreme political views.
Overall Takeaway:
The incident involving the Maine high school teacher underscores the dangerous consequences of extreme political rhetoric, especially when expressed by individuals in positions of public trust. While freedom of speech is protected, public calls for violence—especially against political figures—can lead to serious legal, professional, and societal consequences. It highlights the urgent need for civility, accountability, and clear boundaries in public discourse, particularly in educational settings where influence on young minds is significant.
SOURCES: FOX NEWS – Maine high school teacher calls for deaths of Trump and his supporters in Facebook posts
TOWNHALL – Maine Teacher Sparks Outrage With Calls for Secret Service to ‘Take Out’ Trump and His Administration
KTVZ 21 – Maine teacher makes threats against President Trump, members of his administration on social media
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