A Republican congressional candidate in Florida is facing federal criminal charges and widespread condemnation after posting a video in which he called President Donald Trump “the Antichrist” and said the president “must be killed.” The incident sparked immediate responses from the U.S. Marine Corps, and the acting Navy secretary, culminating in a rapid investigation and arrest by the U.S. Secret Service.
William Upham, 35, a write-in candidate in Florida’s 5th Congressional District and a former Marine officer, made the remarks during a nearly seven-minute video while wearing a Marine Corps uniform. On Thursday, July 16, federal authorities officially arrested Upham, charging him with threatening the president of the United States. Following his initial appearance in a Jacksonville federal court, a judge ordered that he remain detained in federal custody. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison.
Video shifts from campaign message to threats
Upham initially framed his campaign around restoring bipartisanship, empowering working Americans, and reforming what he described as a broken political system. Midway through the video, however, the message took a dramatically different direction.
After citing several Bible passages and referencing the oath he took as a Marine officer to defend the Constitution against “all enemies, foreign and domestic,” Upham accused Trump of being “the Antichrist.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, is the Antichrist,” Upham said. “He is a false messiah. And he is your enemy. And he must be killed.”
According to the New York Post, Upham said Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV and an AI-generated image previously shared by the president depicting himself in Christ-like imagery contributed to his conclusion. Elsewhere in the recording, Upham said violence should never be used for “evil purposes such as vengeance or plunder,” creating an apparent contradiction with his explicit calls for Trump’s death.
Investigation reveals secondary videos and explicit emails
The criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida reveals that the investigation quickly escalated beyond the initial public video.
According to federal affidavits, Secret Service agents discovered a second video posted by Upham. Still wearing his military uniform, he provided viewers with explicit tactical instructions on how to use a semi-automatic rifle to assassinate the president.
The investigation was further solidified when a reporter contacted Upham regarding the content. Upham responded via an email — later traced directly to the address listed on his Florida Bar profile — stating, “I made this video in uniform to declare war against President Trump on behalf of God… I will kill President Trump at the time that God chooses.”
Marine Corps distances itself amid mental health disclosures
The Marine Corps issued a public statement rejecting Upham’s remarks, clarifying that he was medically discharged on May 30, 2025, and reached the rank of first lieutenant during his four years of service. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao also condemned the comments on X, calling them “unacceptable” and noting that Upham does not represent military values.
Court documents have since shed light on Upham’s background, revealing a history of severe mental health struggles. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs flagged Upham to investigators, noting he had been medically retired from the military due to psychological concerns and had recently undergone a psychiatric hold. Local law enforcement records also show that during a July 5 welfare check, Upham allegedly told local police officers that he was the Messiah.
The remarks come amid continued concerns about political violence following multiple assassination attempts targeting Trump during the 2024 campaign and the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025.
Long-shot candidate faces uncertain future
Despite the national publicity, Upham remains an entirely fringe candidate in Florida’s Republican primary scheduled for Aug. 18. He is running as a write-in candidate against five-term incumbent Rep. John Rutherford, conservative radio host Mark Kaye, and Donald Muirheid.
Rutherford enters the race as the overwhelming favorite, having won reelection in 2024 with more than 63% of the vote in the heavily Republican district. No reputable polling or prediction markets show measurable support for Upham, who remains disqualified from active campaigning while held without bond.
Before the controversy, Upham’s campaign website described him as a Marine, prosecutor, and Republican running “for God and country,” promising voters, “No more insiders. No more extremism. No more excuses.” Following his federal arrest, those promises face ultimate scrutiny as the legal case against him moves forward.
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