A former U.S. Marine and congressional write-in candidate in Florida is facing widespread condemnation after posting a disturbing video on a social media platform, in which he declared that President Donald Trump "must be killed" while describing the commander-in-chief as the "anti-Christ."
The video, which was six minutes long and still available on the candidate's account as of the time of writing, showed the medically discharged former Marine First Lieutenant wearing his military uniform, levelling the ultimate threat against the leader of the America First movement.
The candidate, William Upham, claimed that he had reached a "turning point" in his campaign after realizing that "our country is broken" and that "we are led by a president who's the enemy of God." He tied his hatred to President Trump's recent criticism of Pope Leo XIV and an AI-generated image Trump posted depicting himself in a Jesus-like pose.
The former Marine tried to cloak his call for assassination in religious language, claiming that "we are at war with evil" and that "this is a war between God and the Antichrist." He also stated that "violence should never be used for evil purposes such as vengeance or plunder" while simultaneously insisting that the President "must be killed."
The Marine Corps issued a swift public response, stating that Upham's rhetoric does not reflect the values of the Corps or the oath he once took. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao was even more direct, stating that "unacceptable" and that "William Upham is no longer a Marine and does not represent our values or ethos."
The disturbing remarks prompted a warning from officials, given the documented pattern of political violence and multiple assassination attempts against President Trump. The full transcript of Upham's video was published, revealing a deeply disturbing and unhinged rant.
The candidate claimed that he joined the Marine Corps to defend the country against all enemies, including those at home, and that he had sworn an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. He cited biblical passages to justify his call for violence, stating that "God values life" and that self-defense is implied through these passages.
Upham declared that President Trump is the Antichrist and must be killed, citing passages from the Bible that describe the Antichrist as someone who opposes God, exalts himself, and claims to be God. He also stated that the Book of Revelation is occurring right now and that America is Babylon, which has been condemned by God and His angels due to its sins.
The candidate's statements have sparked widespread condemnation, and officials have warned of the dangers of such rhetoric, which has fueled a pattern of violence and intimidation against President Trump and his supporters.
The Marine Corps' swift response and the Acting Secretary of the Navy's direct statement have made it clear that Upham's rhetoric does not reflect the values of the Corps or the oath he once took. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the values of respect, empathy, and non-violence in public discourse.
