JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former Jacksonville Marine was arrested Thursday and charged by criminal complaint with threatening to kill President Donald Trump, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
William L. Upham, 35, was taken into custody after appearing in federal court in Jacksonville and has been ordered detained, United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe said. If convicted, Upham faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
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The Marine Corps is aware of the disturbing statements made by William Upham, who was medically discharged on May 30, 2025. The comments made by Upham are a direct violation of the oath he swore to uphold and are not in keeping with the service's values.
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) July 15, 2026
According to the complaint, the United States Secret Service received reports about potential threats made by Upham, a former Marine and former state prosecutor. Agents reviewed two videos posted to Upham’s social media accounts in which he wore his military uniform and urged action against the Trump administration.
In one video, Upham said, “this is a call to arms,” and urged the overthrow of the administration. The complaint says he recommended using a semi-automatic rifle and described a method of shooting that he said would likely be fatal. In a second video, agents say, Upham repeated similar statements and said President Trump “must be killed.”
The Secret Service also received a message Upham allegedly sent to a third party saying he made the videos to “declare war” on President Trump and that he would “kill President Trump at the time that God chooses,” the complaint says.
Investigators say Upham had access to firearms and made concerning statements to law enforcement as recently as July 2026.