A Republican write-in candidate for Florida's 5th Congressional District, William Upham, has come under fire for posting a video in which he identifies President Donald Trump as "the Antichrist" and states that the former president "must be killed."
Upham, who describes himself on X as a prosecutor running to "fix our broken political system," initially stated his intention to restore bipartisanship and return power to the working class. However, the tone of his nearly seven-minute video shifts dramatically as he asserts the country is "broken" and engaged in a spiritual battle.
Referencing biblical passages and his oath as a former U.S. Marine officer to defend the Constitution against "all enemies, foreign and domestic," Upham declared, "We are led by a president who is the enemy of God." He further stated, "There is no doubt" that Trump is "the Antichrist," a "false messiah," and "your enemy." He concluded by saying Trump "must be killed" and that "God will prevail against evil."
The U.S. Marine Corps issued a statement on X condemning Upham's remarks, noting that he 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," the statement read.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it is aware of the candidate's comments. A spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "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." The agency declined further comment, citing operational security and protective intelligence protocols.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao also denounced Upham's statements on X, writing, "Unacceptable. William Upham is no longer a Marine and does not represent our values or ethos."
Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI, the White House, and Upham's campaign for comment.