Former President Donald Trump shocked corporate press pundits when he used the term “bloodbath” during a rally in Ohio.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed his supporters at an event on March 16, where he said that if he does not get “elected it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country” while discussing the economic challenges currently facing Americans.
“No, we’re going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and you’re not going to be able to sell those cars if I get elected,” Trump said. “Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country; that’ll be the least of it. But they’re not going to sell those cars. They’re building massive factories.” White House and the Media: “Trump says their will be a bloodbath if he loses”
Thank God we have X and rational thought! They are lying to you with another hoax! Here is the FULL CLIP!! pic.twitter.com/ZbMpGEHW3Z
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) March 17, 2024
Trump’s campaign maintained that the quote was being taken out of context and deceptively presented to the public. Trump dismissed the criticism on March 18.
“The Fake News Media, and their Democrat Partners in the destruction of our Nation, pretended to be shocked at my use of the word BLOODBATH, even though they fully understood that I was simply referring to imports allowed by Crooked Joe Biden, which are killing the automobile industry,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
“The United Auto Workers, but not their leadership, fully understand what I mean,” he continued. “With the Electric Car Mandate being pushed by Biden, there soon won’t be any cars made in the USA - UNLESS I’M ELECTED PRESIDENT, IN WHICH CASE AUTO MANUFACTURING WILL THRIVE LIKE NEVER BEFORE!!!”
The remark was widely covered by major media outlets and President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. Rolling Stone labeled the speech as “doom and gloom” and that – in addition to using the term bloodbath – Trump had said that elections will end if he isn’t reelected.
“It would not be a Trump rally without him spouting off about the election he lost being rigged and talking in near-apocalyptic terms should he not be reelected this year,” wrote Rolling Stone.
CBS News noted Trump was struggling to read the teleprompters as 35-miles-per-hour winds swept the airfield where the rally was held.
“Trump used the stage to deliver a profanity-filled version of his usual rally speech that again painted an apocalyptic picture of the country if Biden wins a second term,” the outlet noted.
James Singer, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, accused Trump of making “threats of political violence.”
“He wants another January 6, but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge,” Singer said, per PBS.
Media personalities on CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC argued that the use of “bloodbath” was shocking. They also suggested that Trump has been increasingly alluding to violence when discussing the election. .@JoeNBC: We are not stupid, Americans aren't stupid. Trump was talking about a bloodbath. Sometimes a bloodbath means a bloodbath. And when Trump finishes by saying, 'and that's just going to be the least of it.' Seriously, we're not stupid pic.twitter.com/bRw3RBrCLz
— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) March 18, 2024
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung denied the Biden campaign's allegations.
“Crooked Joe Biden and his campaign are engaging in deceptively, out-of-context editing,” he said in a statement.
