Trump-Endorsed Texas Candidate Under Fire for MLK Assassination Recreation Video
A Republican congressional candidate in Texas, recently endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has sparked outrage after a resurfaced video showed him seemingly recreating the assassination of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. The clip, which dates back to 2023, features Brandon Herrera, a 30-year-old self-described "Second Amendment Absolutist," firing at a target dummy while discussing conspiracy theories about King's death.
Controversial Content Resurfaces Following Trump Endorsement
The video emerged just after Trump publicly backed Herrera in the race for Texas's 23rd congressional district on Wednesday. In the footage, uploaded to Herrera's YouTube channel "The AK Guy," which boasts over 4 million subscribers, he references King's 1968 shooting at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, before adding, "At least... according to the FBI." Herrera then proceeds to fire multiple bullets at a target dummy, attempting to replicate the assassin's shot.
During the video, Herrera notes that King's death made him a martyr and one of America's most influential figures, but he also makes lighthearted remarks, such as joking that King is "the reason why you get off a day in school in February"—despite the MLK holiday falling in January. After shooting the dummy at close range, Herrera laughs and says, "This is so f****** wrong," before concluding with a statement about incorporating "dark and edgy humor" into his content.
Political Backdrop and Herrera's Campaign
Herrera is running as a Republican to replace Rep. Tony Gonzales, who ended his reelection campaign after revelations of an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide. Trump's endorsement praised Herrera as a "MAGA Warrior" who would advance policies like border security, tax cuts, and Second Amendment protections. Herrera shared the endorsement on social media, vowing to "take the fight to the Democrats in November."
However, this endorsement comes amid controversy, including a cease-and-desist letter from Trump's lawyer earlier this year over Herrera's unauthorized use of Trump's image in campaign ads. Additionally, Herrera has faced criticism for past comments about Trump's son, Barron, mocking his height and appearance on a podcast.
History of Controversial Online Behavior
Herrera has a long history of posting provocative content on YouTube, with other resurfaced clips showing him making Holocaust jokes, referring to a gun as the "original ghetto blaster," and discussing owning a copy of Mein Kampf. Despite accusations of antisemitism and neo-Nazi sympathies, his campaign manager, Kimmie Gonzalez, has denied these claims, stating that Herrera has ridiculed Hitler and earned support from Jewish community leaders.
Public Reaction and Election Implications
Internet users have reacted strongly to the MLK video, with some calling Herrera racist and a "danger to democracy," while others mocked him as a "MAGA low grade moron." Herrera is set to face Democrat Katy Padilla Stout in the November election for the House seat, which covers a Republican stronghold along the Mexico border. The resurfacing of this and other controversial videos could impact his campaign, as voters weigh his online history against Trump's endorsement.
The Independent has reached out to Herrera and the White House for comment, but no responses have been provided yet. As the election approaches, this incident highlights the ongoing tensions between political endorsements and candidates' personal conduct in the digital age.
