Elliot Forhan, a Democrat running for Ohio Attorney General, sparked immediate controversy on Tuesday after posting a video to social media where he discussed a plan to execute President Donald Trump.
In the clip posted to X, Forhan stated plainly that he intends to “kill” the president, though he immediately followed the statement with a legal explanation involving a hypothetical trial.
The video begins with Forhan speaking directly to the camera. “I want to tell you what I mean when I say that I am going to kill Donald Trump,” he said.
He went on to explain that he did not mean immediate violence, but rather a legal process. Forhan described a scenario where he would secure a conviction from a jury based on evidence and due process, which would eventually result in a state-sanctioned execution.
“That is what I mean when I say I am going to kill Donald Trump,” he concluded.
The remarks drew a swift condemnation from his political opponent, Republican Ohio Auditor Keith Faber. Faber, who is also running for the Attorney General seat, posted a video response the same afternoon.
He called the comments “vile” and argued that they disqualify Forhan from holding the office. Faber also used the moment to call on Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for governor, to publicly disavow Forhan’s rhetoric.
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This is not the first time Forhan has faced backlash for aggressive language. He announced his campaign in February 2025, following a turbulent term in the Ohio House of Representatives. During his time in the House, reported conflicts with his colleagues led leadership to strip him of his committee assignments and restrict access to his office.
Faber also pointed to Forhan’s past comments regarding the death of Charlie Kirk. In September 2025, five days after the Turning Point USA founder was assassinated, Forhan wrote an explicit post on Facebook cursing Kirk. At the time, Forhan defended the post.
He stated that while violence is wrong, he refused to “sanitize” Kirk’s legacy, adding that he chose his words carefully to send a forceful message. Faber cited both the recent video about the president and the comments about Kirk as proof of the type of candidates the Democratic party is fielding.
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