DOJ charges Florida House candidate who called for ‘Antichrist’ Trump’s death
William Upham, a 35-year-old former Marine running as a write-in Republican candidate in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, was arrested and charged with threatening president Donald Trump. Upham had posted social media videos in which he called Trump the Antichrist and urged people to overthrow the government and use semi-automatic rifles,stating that Trump must be killed and describing the conflict as a war between god and the Antichrist. The Marine Corps disowned Upham after his comments surfaced, emphasizing that his statements violated the values of service. The U.S. Justice Department, following an affidavit from the Secret Service, accused Upham of threatening to kill Trump and recommended federal charges. Upham’s remarks also included a call for divine intervention at a time chosen by God. He is currently a candidate in the Republican primary against incumbent Rep. john Rutherford, with the district considered strongly Republican.
The Department of Justice arrested and charged a former Marine running for Congress in Florida who called for President Donald Trump to be killed.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced on Thursday that it charged William Upham, 35, of Jacksonville, Florida, with threatening the president. Upham could face up to five years in federal prison if he is convicted of the charge.
Recommended Stories
Upham, who is running as a write-in Republican candidate to represent Florida’s 5th Congressional District, was arrested after he stated in a social media video that he believed Trump to be the Antichrist and said the president “must be killed.” The Marine Corps disavowed Upham on Tuesday after reports of his comments circulated through the media.
In one of the videos detailed in the criminal complaint, Upham called on people to “overthrow the Trump administration on behalf of God” and called for the use of semi-automatic rifles in the process.
“We are at war with evil,” Upham said of the United States in another social media video. “This is a war between God and the Antichrist. There is no doubt in my mind that the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, is the Antichrist. He is a false Messiah, and he is your enemy, and he must be killed.”
The Marine Corps said in a statement that it was “aware of the disturbing statements” made by Upham, who was medically discharged from his service in 2025. The Marine Corps said Upham’s comments “are a direct violation of the oath he swore to uphold and are not in keeping with the service’s values.”
Two days after the Marine Corps disavowed Upham, the DOJ announced his arrest. In the affidavit made by a U.S. Secret Service agent accompanying the criminal complaint, the agent noted that the agency was made aware of the two disturbing social media videos from Upham and a separate email Upham allegedly sent to a reporter in which the former Marine said he would “kill President Trump at the time that God chooses.”
MARINES DISAVOW FLORIDA HOUSE CANDIDATE WHO SAID ‘ANTICHRIST’ TRUMP ‘MUST BE KILLED’
U.S. Magistrate Judge Samuel J. Horovitz signed the complaint and submitted it on Wednesday.
Upham is running as a write-in candidate against five-term incumbent Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL) and two other candidates in the Republican primary, set for Aug. 18. The Cook Political Report deems the seat to be a solidly Republican district.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
