A former U.S. Marine and Florida congressional candidate has sparked widespread condemnation after posting a video calling for the death of President Donald Trump. William Upham, a write-in candidate for Florida’s 5th Congressional District, made the remarks in a July 13 video on X, where he claimed Trump is the Antichrist and must be killed. The video, viewed over 500,000 times, ends with Upham in uniform stating, 'President Trump is the Anti-Christ and he will be killed and sent to hell. God will prevail against evil.'
The U.S. Marine Corps swiftly responded, stating it was aware of Upham’s comments and that they violated his oath and the service’s values. The Corps clarified that Upham was medically discharged on May 30, 2025, and no longer represents its values. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao also condemned the remarks, calling them 'unacceptable.'
Upham, a former Jacksonville prosecutor, had initially run as a Republican before switching to a write-in campaign. His video drew sharp criticism from veterans and the public, with many condemning his use of military uniform and religious rhetoric to call for violence. The Marine Corps’ response to the video garnered over 2.7 million views, highlighting the controversy.
The video’s tone shifted from Upham’s stated goal of restoring bipartisanship to a spiritual condemnation of Trump, whom he labeled as 'the enemy of God.' He cited Bible passages and his Marine oath before making the incendiary remarks. The incident has reignited discussions about the separation of military personnel from political messaging, a tradition dating back to the nation’s founding.