Ohio Democratic AG Candidate Says He Plans to 'Kill Donald Trump' via Capital Punishment, Sparks Bipartisan Backlash

Ohio Democratic attorney general candidate and former state representative Elliot Forhan is under fire after posting on Facebook that he intends to "kill Donald Trump," then elaborating that he means securing a jury conviction and a capital‑punishment sentence against the former president if Trump "tries again to end American democracy." The post triggered immediate condemnation from Republicans, including GOP AG candidate and state auditor Keith Faber, treasurer candidate Jay Edwards and conservative commentators who labeled Forhan "deranged" and called on state Democrats such as gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and Sen. Sherrod Brown to disavow him. Critics say the rhetoric normalizes political murder and comes on the heels of a wave of threats and actual violence against political figures, including the 2025 assassination of Charlie Kirk, about which Forhan previously wrote "F*** Charlie Kirk" on social media. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Forhan declined to retract his language, arguing he is simply pledging to apply the law equally, including to the president, and would seek the death penalty if Trump again tried to overturn U.S. democracy. The episode feeds into a broader national debate over escalating political rhetoric, "assassination culture" and how seriously parties and law enforcement should treat statements that fantasize about executing political opponents under color of law.