VIDEO: Former Marine Candidate Says Trump ‘Must Be Killed,’ Marine Corps Responds
A former U.S. Marine running as a write-in candidate for Congress in Florida is under fire after posting a video on X in which he called President Donald Trump the “anti-Christ” and said he “must be killed.”
The man in the video is William Upham, who the Marine Corps says was medically discharged on May 30, 2025. In the clip, Upham appears in military uniform while delivering a roughly six-minute political and religious rant aimed at Trump.
Upham said he had reached a “turning point” in his campaign because he believes the country is broken. He described Trump as “the enemy of God” and claimed, “President Trump will never bring us together like God intended.”
He also tied his comments to Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV and an AI-generated image Trump had posted showing himself in a Jesus-like pose. Upham said, “He is nothing like Jesus Christ.”
The video grew even more alarming as Upham framed his political anger in apocalyptic terms. He claimed “we are at war with evil” and described the moment as “a war between God and the Antichrist.” He also said “America is Babylon” and claimed “the Book of Revelation is occurring right now.”
Then came the line that drew the most attention: Upham said Trump “must be killed.”
Political threats are not just ugly talk. They are dangerous. They also land in a climate where Trump has already faced multiple threats and assassination attempts. That is why the video quickly caught attention online and drew a public response from military leadership.
https://x.com/uphamforflorida/status/2076829011548717242
https://x.com/MarkNaughton9/status/2077227529706840378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Marine Corps responded directly on X and made clear that Upham does not speak for the service.
“The Marine Corps is aware of the disturbing statements made by William Upham, who was medically discharged on May 30, 2025. The comments made by Upham are 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 weighed in with a blunt statement.
“Unacceptable. William Upham is no longer a Marine and does not represent our values or ethos.”
https://x.com/SECNAV/status/2077183967048896830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
In the video, Upham also said he joined the Marine Corps to defend the country against enemies, including enemies “here at home.” He recited the oath he took when he commissioned, saying, “I, William Upham, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. So help me God.”
But calling for the killing of a sitting president crosses a bright red line. No campaign speech, religious argument, or political grievance changes that.
The Marine Corps response was fast for a reason. Upham used the image and credibility of military service while making comments that the Corps says violate both his oath and its values. Cao went even further, stressing that Upham is no longer a Marine.
As of the original report, the video was still available on Upham’s X account. The backlash continues to build as more people see the clip and call out the rhetoric for what it is: reckless, dangerous, and far outside the bounds of normal political debate.