“‘I Am Going to Kill Donald Trump’: Ohio Attorney General Candidate Shocks With Video Statements

Elliot Forhan, a Democrat running for Ohio attorney general, caused instant backlash on Tuesday after posting a video on social media in which he talked about a plan that involved the execution of President Donald Trump.

In the video, which he shared on X, Forhan openly said he was going to “kill” the president. Although he followed that statement with a legal explanation, the wording alone immediately alarmed many people and spread quickly online.

Speaking directly into the camera, Forhan said, “I want to tell you what I mean when I say that I am going to kill Donald Trump.” He then tried to clarify that he was not calling for immediate violence. Instead, he described a hypothetical legal process in which Trump would be put on trial, convicted by a jury using evidence and due process, and then sentenced to death through capital punishment carried out by the state.

Forhan ended the video by repeating his point, saying that this legal outcome was what he meant when he used the phrase about killing Trump. Despite the explanation, many viewers said the language was reckless and inappropriate, especially coming from someone seeking high office.

The video quickly sparked outrage online and was widely shared, including by the popular account Libs of TikTok, which tagged federal authorities and framed the remarks as a direct threat against the president.

Republican Auditor Kelith Faber, who is also running for Ohio attorney general, responded later that same day. Faber released his own video condemning Forhan’s comments, criticizing both the language used and the judgment behind making such statements publicly.

The controversy has continued to grow, with thousands of reactions and replies online, as many people question whether Forhan’s remarks crossed a serious line, regardless of the legal explanation he offered.