A Colorado substitute teacher is facing severe backlash after a disturbing video surfaced in which her young daughters cheer at the false suggestion that President Donald Trump had died. The teacher, Krista Cole — a substitute at a public school in Colorado Springs — recorded the video herself and shared it on social media, sparking outrage from conservatives, military families, and education watchdogs alike.
The video, filmed last month, shows Cole gleefully telling her two daughters that she has the “best news ever.” Without hesitation, one of the children guesses, “Donald Trump died?” Cole, laughing, responds, “Second best news.”
What followed was a troubling chain of guesses by the girls, who, prompted by their mother’s tone, next suggest, “The Vice President died?” Cole then replies, “Third best news.” The guessing continues with one child wondering if tech mogul Elon Musk had passed away.
In the end, Cole reveals that the “good news” she was teasing was pop star Taylor Swift’s engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce — a piece of celebrity gossip unrelated to any political or public figure. Still, the video’s content left many viewers deeply unsettled, not just by the children’s disturbing responses but by the mother’s decision to film and post the interaction.
Krista Cole’s husband, Lieutenant Colonel Adam Cole, is a high-ranking officer in the Colorado National Guard, a fact that has only heightened public concern. Many online commentators noted the irony and danger of children raised in a military household joking about the death of a Commander-in-Chief.
The school district responded swiftly, placing Cole on administrative leave while an internal investigation is underway.
“When there is a concern that an employee may have violated a district policy in an egregious manner, it is our practice to place them on administrative leave while we conduct a thorough review,” a district spokesperson told the Daily Mail. “This matter is being addressed administratively… There is no safety threat to Chipeta Elementary, and our focus remains on providing a safe, supportive learning environment.”
The timing of the video going viral has only inflamed tensions further. It comes just days after the shocking assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was gunned down at Utah Valley University on September 10. While there is no known connection between Kirk’s death and Cole’s video, the incident has reignited debates over the increasing hostility and polarization within American society.
Social media erupted with outrage. One user on X commented, “A military wife posted that the best news her kids thought of was the death of the Commander in Chief? We’re cooked.” Another added, “Unreal. The father of these children is a Lt. Col. in the US Army? This is unbelievable.”
Calls for accountability are intensifying. Some users have tagged Child Protective Services and the Department of Education in their posts, demanding investigations into the family’s environment and the teacher’s suitability for any educational role. Others have reached out to the Colorado National Guard, expressing concern about the example being set by a military family.
“This cannot be reposted and senior leadership tagged enough. This is one of the saddest, most disgusting things I have ever seen. Those poor children,” another user wrote.
The backlash reflects a deeper concern many conservatives have voiced for years: the progressive indoctrination of children through public education. Conservative leaders, including Trump himself, have warned that leftist ideology is increasingly hostile — even violent. A YouGov survey often cited by Republican commentators found that 26% of young liberals say political violence is sometimes acceptable, compared to just 7% of young conservatives.
Krista Cole’s social media accounts have since been deleted. Neither she nor the Colorado National Guard has responded to media inquiries.
