Elliot Forhan, a Democratic candidate for Ohio attorney general and former state representative, ignited a firestorm after posting a video on social media in which he declared his intention to "kill" President Donald Trump by pursuing capital punishment against him. The video, which surfaced in late January 2026, was first reported by The American Tribune and quickly drew outrage from conservatives across the country.
Forhan opened the video in the most provocative way imaginable, stating plainly: "I want to tell you what I mean when I say that I am going to kill Donald Trump." The remark is especially jarring given that President Trump has survived multiple assassination attempts.
The AG hopeful then attempted to reframe his language in legal terms, explaining that he meant he would pursue a criminal conviction carrying the death penalty. "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," Forhan said. He wrapped up the video by repeating: "That is what I mean when I say I am going to kill Donald Trump."
Notably, Forhan never specified what crime, let alone what capital crime, he believes the president has committed. The whole thing amounted to an incendiary campaign pitch dressed up in legalese.
The video appeared to be part of Forhan's broader opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and Border Patrol activity, which had been generating significant resistance in blue cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul around the same time.
Conservative commentators wasted no time tearing into the post. Tennessee Republican Robby Starbuck responded on X, writing: "People with TDS are a lot like drug addicts. The high of impeachment declarations and jail just don't give them the same high anymore. Now we have Democrats running on killing the President. This guy belongs in an insane asylum."
One commenter on Starbuck's post pointed out a troubling pattern, noting that Democrats had previously backed a Virginia AG candidate who had texted about murdering a political opponent and wishing death on the opponent's children.
The Libs of TikTok account also weighed in, highlighting a separate post Forhan had made after the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. In that post, Forhan had written simply: "F-ck Charlie Kirk." The account labeled him "an evil deranged psycho."
Reactions poured in from users on X, with comments ranging from "These people are evil and deranged" to calls for an FBI wellness check and psychiatric evaluation. Others expressed a grim resignation, saying this kind of rhetoric is simply where political discourse stands now.
Some commenters speculated that Democrats view this sort of extreme rhetoric as a viable electoral strategy, pointing to recent results in Virginia as supposed evidence that it works. Whether Ohio voters agree remains to be seen, but Forhan has certainly made himself impossible to ignore.
Read more American news stories at: The American Tribune
