Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is facing growing political fallout after making inflammatory remarks suggesting that supporters of President Donald Trump should be “punched in the face as hard as possible.” The comments, made during a March interview with City & State Pennsylvania, have sparked bipartisan outrage and prompted calls for a federal investigation.
Krasner, a far-left prosecutor backed by progressive groups and George Soros-funded political organizations, described Trump and his supporters as “fascists” who need to be dealt with through aggressive confrontation. “Sometimes,” Krasner said, “you have to punch a bully in the face as hard as you can to inspire others to stand up.”
The Pennsylvania Republican Party has formally requested a federal investigation into whether Krasner’s comments constitute a criminal threat against President Trump. In a letter sent to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, state GOP Chairman Greg Rothman urged the Department of Justice to take immediate action, warning that no public official should be allowed to advocate violence—especially against a former president and current presidential candidate.
“This is not just reckless rhetoric—it’s potentially criminal,” Rothman said. “Larry Krasner is supposed to uphold the law, not incite violence against his political opponents.”
Krasner’s comments have sparked widespread condemnation, not just from Republicans but also from community leaders and legal experts who say the district attorney’s language undermines the rule of law and disrespects the office he holds. Critics argue that the remarks reflect a disturbing pattern among some progressive officials who blur the line between political disagreement and open hostility.
Krasner, currently seeking a third term as district attorney, now finds himself in a contentious primary fight. Former judge Pat Dugan, who is challenging Krasner, quickly seized on the controversy. “Larry Krasner has turned the prosecutor’s office into a political circus,” Dugan said. “He’s not focused on protecting Philadelphia families—he’s too busy chasing headlines and stirring up division.”
Krasner’s tenure has already been marred by rising violent crime, reduced prosecutions, and widespread criticism over his soft-on-crime policies. Now, his willingness to suggest violence as a political tool may cost him at the ballot box.
While Krasner’s allies have attempted to spin the comments as metaphorical, the message was clear—and so is the backlash. With Philadelphia voters already uneasy about public safety and declining confidence in city leadership, this latest controversy could mark a turning point in a race that has become a referendum on law and order.
As legal analysts and federal authorities review the situation, the political message is unmistakable: the American people expect public officials—especially prosecutors—to enforce the law, not encourage mob justice.