The Russian cybercriminal ironically presents himself as a U.S. citizen aligned with President Donald Trump’s positions.

According to U.S. intelligence, LockBitSupp is believed to be a Russian citizen, Dmitry Khoroshev, still residing in Russia. In his public message, the cybercriminal ironically portrays himself as an American defending his country’s values and national security. He claims that the purpose of his business, “for which he has paid so many taxes,” has always been to make the United States “a safe place.”

LockBitSupp offers to provide Kash Pastel with a “highly sensitive archive of classified information.” He invites the FBI director to contact him, stating that this information “could not only damage the FBI’s reputation but destroy it as an institution.”

A master of bluster, known for mocking other cybercriminals, LockBitSupp mimics the rhetoric of Donald Trump and his supporters. This parody likely mocks the perceived closeness between the U.S. president and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. It also ironically references rumors accusing LockBitSupp of having cooperated with the FBI.

LockBit was the world’s most significant ransomware gang between 2022 and 2023. Hit by an international law enforcement operation in early 2024, the cybercriminal group has seen its activity decline sharply.