Patriot Brief
- What Happened: An Ohio Democratic attorney general candidate posted a video saying he would seek President Donald Trump’s execution following a hypothetical conviction.
- Why It Matters: Calls for killing a sitting president, even framed as legal process, raise serious concerns about political extremism and rhetoric.
- Bottom Line: The remarks ignited swift backlash and put the candidate under intense scrutiny.
An Ohio Democratic attorney general candidate set off a political firestorm after posting a video that explicitly described executing President Donald Trump following a hypothetical trial and conviction.
Elliot Forhan, a Democrat running for Ohio attorney general, released the video on X Tuesday in which he said he would pursue Trump’s conviction and ultimate execution. In the clip, Forhan attempted to frame the statement as a legal process, but the language left little ambiguity about the outcome he was advocating.
“I want to tell you what I mean when I say that I am going to kill Donald Trump,” Forhan said in the video. “I mean I’m going to obtain a conviction rendered by a jury of his peers at a standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt based on evidence, presented at a trial conducted in accordance with the requirements of due process, resulting in a sentence, duly executed, of capital punishment.”
He then repeated the line. “That is what I mean when I say I am going to kill Donald Trump.”
The video quickly went viral and drew condemnation from conservatives and legal observers who said the remarks crossed a dangerous line. Critics argued that openly talking about executing a political opponent, even under the guise of legal theory, is reckless and extreme.
Republican Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber, who is running as the GOP candidate for attorney general, responded by condemning the comments and warning about the normalization of violent rhetoric in politics. His campaign said Ohio voters deserve a chief law enforcement officer who respects the rule of law and rejects threats, not one who inflames tensions.
The episode underscores the growing concern over political discourse spiraling into explicit calls for violence. While Forhan tried to cloak his remarks in legal language, the statement itself has become the story.
As the race for Ohio attorney general heats up, the fallout from the video is likely to linger, raising questions about judgment, temperament, and how far some candidates are willing to go to score attention in a polarized political climate.