Ohio AG Candidate's Video on Trump's Capital Punishment Sparks Backlash

A Democratic candidate for Ohio attorney general sparked widespread controversy on Tuesday by posting a video on social media in which he outlined his intention to seek capital punishment for President Donald Trump through a legal process.

Elliot Forhan, a former Ohio state representative, stated in the video, "I want to tell you what I mean when I say that I am going to kill Donald Trump. 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. That is what I mean when I say that I am going to kill Donald Trump."

The remarks, shared on platforms including X and Instagram, came amid heightened political tensions following multiple assassination attempts on Trump, including one in July 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania, that left him with a minor ear injury. Forhan announced his candidacy for attorney general in February 2025, positioning himself as a prosecutor focused on accountability in public office.

Forhan served one term in the Ohio House of...