A Democrat running for Congress in North Carolina is stirring up controversy after old video footage surfaced of him threatening violence against a top Trump advisor. The man, Richard Ojeda, said on a livestream back in 2022 that he’d be willing to “go to jail” for beating up Stephen Miller, one of President Trump’s senior aides.
Ojeda didn’t hold back. He talked about wanting to “kick the s— out of him” and even joked about how much jail time he’d get for doing it. He said he’d be happy to get stuck in an elevator with Miller and “whoop his a– from the first floor to the fifth floor.”
As a veteran, I understand anger. I’ve been in heated situations, and I’ve seen what unchecked rage leads to. But there’s no excuse for this kind of talk—especially from someone who wants to represent Americans in Congress. Our country is already dealing with a dangerous rise in political violence. We’ve seen actual attacks, even assassinations. Charlie Kirk was murdered just last month. President Trump has survived multiple attempts on his life. This isn’t just talk—it’s a powder keg.
The White House responded quickly. A spokesperson said that Democrats supporting political violence “is nothing new,” and they’re right. We’ve seen this pattern before. From Antifa riots to attacks on conservative speakers, the left has a history of using threats and violence when they don’t get their way. And now, we’ve got a former state lawmaker and Army veteran saying he wants to beat up a Trump official.
Even worse, this isn’t an isolated case. Another Democrat, Jay Jones, who’s running for attorney general in Virginia, recently came under fire after text messages showed him saying that a Republican colleague should get “two bullets to the head.” That’s not just locker room talk—that’s a death threat.
Ojeda tried to walk back his comments after the video resurfaced. He said he doesn’t believe in political violence and that his words were just a reflection of his anger. He pointed to his military service—24 years in the U.S. Army—and said that he’s been a victim of political violence himself. He even mentioned being beaten nearly to death during his first state Senate run.
But here’s the problem: You can’t claim to be against violence while also fantasizing about assault. That’s not how leadership works. Veterans know better than anyone that words matter. The wrong words at the wrong time can get people killed. We’re trained to control our emotions, to think before we act, and to lead by example. Ojeda’s behavior does none of that.
He says he grew up around coal miners who “talk tough” and don’t “mince words.” That may be true, but there’s a difference between being blunt and openly threatening violence. The left keeps saying they want to “restore civility,” but they don’t seem to hold themselves to that standard.
Ojeda’s campaign is picking up steam in the Democratic primary, but voters in North Carolina’s 9th District need to take a hard look at who he really is. This isn’t just about one bad comment—it’s about a pattern of behavior. The man has already run for office multiple times and failed. Now he’s trying again, and he’s doing it by stirring up hate and division.
We don’t need more hotheads in Washington. We need men and women who understand duty, honor, and country. We need leaders who can keep their cool when things get heated. The streets of our nation’s capital aren’t a bar fight. They’re where the future of this nation is decided.
From one veteran to another, Mr. Ojeda, you should know better. And the American people deserve better.
