Trump says he wouldn’t mind if potential assassin shot journalists to get to him

LITITZ, Pennsylvania — Donald Trump gives a profane and conspiracy-laden speech two days before the US presidential election, talking about reporters being shot and suggesting he “shouldn’t have left” the White House after his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

In remarks today that bear no resemblance to his standard speech in the campaign’s closing stretch, the former US president repeatedly casts doubt on the integrity of the vote and resurrects old grievances about being prosecuted after trying to overturn his defeat four years ago. Trump intensifies his verbal attacks against a “grossly incompetent” national leadership and the American media, steering his Pennsylvania rally at one point onto the topic of violence against members of the press.

The GOP nominee for the White House notes the ballistic glass placed in front of him at events after a gunman’s assassination attempt in July at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and Trump talks about places where he saw openings in that protection.

“I have this piece of glass here,” he says. “But all we have really over here is the fake news. And to get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don’t mind that so much.”

It is the second time in recent days that Trump has talked about guns being pointed at people he considers enemies after he suggested former Rep. Liz Cheney, a prominent Republican critic, wouldn’t be willing to support foreign wars if she had “nine barrels shooting at her.”

His remarks also reflect that with less than 48 hours before Election Day, Trump continues to promote falsehoods about elections and argue that he can only lose to Democrat Kamala Harris if he is cheated, even though polls suggest a tight race.

Some of his allies, notably former chief strategist Steve Bannon, have encouraged him to prematurely declare victory on Tuesday even if the race is too early to call. That’s what Trump did four years ago, kicking off a process of fighting the election results that culminated in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol.

His campaign later sought to clarify his meaning in talking about the media.

“President Trump was brilliantly talking about the two assassination attempts on his own life, including one that came within 1/4 of an inch from killing him, something that the Media constantly talks and jokes about,” campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung says in a statement. “The President’s statement about protective glass placement has nothing to do with the Media being harmed, or anything else.”

BREAKING: Trump says he wouldn’t mind if a shooter killed the reporters covering his rally. Don’t want to hear another word from MAGA about incendiary rhetoric. Look in the mirror. pic.twitter.com/8PWdYjBMEQ

— Trump’s Lies (Commentary) (@MAGALieTracker) November 3, 2024