Full Breakdown
Florida Congressional Candidate Calls President Trump “Anti-Christ” and Urges His Death
7/16/2026, 1:13:28 AM
Candidate’s Video and Claims
Discharged Marine William Upham, a write-in candidate for Florida’s 5th Congressional District, posted a nearly seven-minute video on social media in which he labeled President Donald J. Trump “the anti-Christ,” a “false Messiah,” and declared that Trump “must be killed.” Upham framed his remarks as a response to Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV and an AI-generated image of Trump portraying himself as Christ-like.
Candidate Background
Upham was medically discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps on May 30, 2025. He is running as a write-in for the House of Representatives. In the video he said the nation is “broken” and that Trump is “the enemy of God” who will not unite the country “as God intended.”
Official Military Responses
The United States Marine Corps issued a statement on X noting that Upham’s comments “violate the oath he swore to uphold” and are inconsistent with Marine values. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao also condemned the remarks, describing them as “unacceptable” and emphasizing that such rhetoric follows recent attempts on Trump’s life and the September assassination of commentator Charlie Kirk.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There is no doubt in my mind that the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, is the anti-Christ. He is a false Messiah, and he is your enemy, and he must be killed,” — William Upham, Candidate
- “President Trump is the anti-Christ and he will be killed and sent to hell. God will prevail against evil,” — William Upham, Candidate
- “Violence should never be used for evil purposes such as vengeance or plunder,” — William Upham, Candidate
- “Unacceptable.” — Hung Cao, Acting Secretary of the Navy
- “We must defend ourselves against all enemies, including the enemies here at home.” — William Upham, Candidate
Impact and Reactions
The video sparked immediate backlash from military officials and the broader public, raising concerns about extremist rhetoric from political candidates. The Marine Corps’ public disavowal underscores the institution’s effort to distance itself from statements that conflict with its core values. No response from Upham was obtained at the time of reporting.
