Former Marine Candidate Says Trump ‘Must Be Killed’ in Video
A former U.S. Marine and Republican write-in candidate for Congress in Florida has sparked widespread condemnation after posting a video in which he called President Donald Trump “the Antichrist” and declared that Trump “must be killed.” The U.S. Secret Service has confirmed it is investigating the comments as a potential threat against a protectee.
The Video and Its Contents
William Upham, a candidate for Florida’s 5th Congressional District, posted a roughly seven-minute video on his X account (@uphamforflorida) on July 13, 2026. In the video, which had been viewed approximately 500,000 times by July 15, Upham appears in his Marine Corps uniform and delivers an apocalyptic religious monologue.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, is the anti-Christ,” Upham says in the video, according to Fox News. “He is a false Messiah, and he is your enemy, and he must be killed.”
Upham also states: “President Trump is the Antichrist. And he will be killed and sent to hell. God will prevail against evil.” The video frames the current political moment within the Book of Revelation, with Upham declaring that “America is Babylon” and that the country is “drowning in sin.”
Official Condemnation and Investigation
The response from military and law enforcement authorities was swift. The U.S. Marine Corps issued a statement on X condemning Upham’s remarks, emphasizing that he was medically discharged on May 30, 2025, and that his comments “are a direct violation of the oath he swore to uphold and are not in keeping with the service’s values.” The Marine Corps’ response statement was viewed 2.7 million times.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao also condemned the remarks, writing on X: “Unacceptable. William Upham is no longer a Marine and does not represent our values or ethos,” as Newsweek reported.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it is aware of the comments and is investigating. “The U.S. Secret Service is aware of the comments made by a congressional candidate in Florida, and we investigate anything that can be perceived as a threat toward one of our protectees,” a spokesperson said in a statement. Under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 871), threatening the president is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Who Is William Upham?
Upham served as a Marine Corps First Lieutenant from June 2021 to September 2025, with a military occupational specialty of Student Judge Advocate. He had no deployments or awards, and his last duty assignment was the Wounded Warrior Battalion West at Camp Pendleton, California, according to Task & Purpose, which obtained his service record.
After his medical discharge, Upham worked as a County Court attorney for State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office in Jacksonville from September 2025 until April 1, 2026. He is a 2023 graduate of Florida State University’s law school and was admitted to the Florida Bar in September 2023. However, as of July 15, the Florida Bar listed Upham as “not eligible to practice” and described him as “retired” — an unusual status for a recent law school graduate.
Upham initially filed to run as a Republican but changed to a write-in candidate in June 2026, challenging incumbent Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL) in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, which covers portions of Northeast Florida including parts of Jacksonville.
Broader Context and Implications
The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened political violence concerns. President Trump has faced multiple assassination attempts, including the July 13, 2024, rally shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, and shots fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April 2026 while Trump was in attendance. Assassinations of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman occurred in 2025.
Katherine Kuzminski of the Center for a New American Security told Task & Purpose that Upham wearing a uniform while making the statements damages the relationship between the military and society. “It gives the perception that the military is a partisan institution, which it is decidedly not,” she said. “It betrays the professional military ethic that enables society to trust that those in uniform serve the nation through their oath to the Constitution.”
The Florida Times-Union reported that the video drew outrage across the political spectrum, with many commenters condemning Upham for wearing a military uniform while making partisan political statements — a violation of Department of Defense policy.
What to Watch For
The Secret Service investigation will determine whether federal charges are filed against Upham. The nature of his medical discharge from the Marine Corps and his unusual Florida Bar status remain unexplained. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the incident underscores the ongoing threat environment surrounding President Trump and raises questions about the intersection of political rhetoric, religious extremism, and security.