The U.S. Marine Corps has condemned remarks made by William Upham, a Florida congressional candidate, after he posted a video stating that President Donald Trump “must be killed.” Upham’s comments sparked swift backlash, prompting the Corps to respond publicly, distancing themselves from the former Marine.
Upham was medically discharged on May 30, 2025. The Marine Corps highlighted that his statements do not align with the values upheld by Marines. In a statement posted on X, a social media platform, the Corps expressed their awareness of Upham’s statements, addressing them as “a direct violation of the oath he swore to uphold and are not in keeping with the service’s values.”
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao also responded on X, affirming, “Unacceptable. William Upham is no longer a Marine and does not represent our values or ethos.” Newsweek contacted both the White House and Marine Corps for comment.
What To Know
Upham, appearing in uniform, utilized a lengthy video on X to announce his candidacy, aiming to disrupt the “system of Washington insiders” and repair the “broken political system.” He expressed his belief that the country is in turmoil, blaming President Trump, stating, “President Trump will never bring us together like God intended.” Upham criticized both major political parties and acknowledged that “violence should never be used for evil purposes such as vengeance or plunder,” while urging defense “against all enemies.”
In a controversial statement, Upham referred to Trump as “the anti-Christ,” urging that “he must be killed.” He claimed this belief stemmed from Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV and sharing an AI image where he was depicted as Jesus-like. Upham asserted, “President Trump is the anti-Christ and he will be killed and sent to hell. God will prevail against evil.”
Listed as a qualified write-in candidate for the Florida Division of Elections, Upham qualified on June 9 for the United States Representative District 5 race, a seat currently held by Republican Representative John Rutherford. This district includes parts of Northeast Florida such as Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, and St. Augustine.
The incident occurs amidst ongoing concerns regarding the inflammatory nature of political discourse in the U.S. Authorities from both parties emphasize the risks posed by language that might incite or legitimize political violence, contributing to a threatening atmosphere.
Public threats against elected officials are scrutinized by federal law enforcement, especially those targeting the president. Trump faced an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. Additionally, an incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25 resulted in shots fired while the president attended.
Assassinations of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman transpired last year, underscoring concerns over potential violence directed at politicians.
This story is ongoing and will receive updates as further information becomes available.