Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday – voicing his support for Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno ahead of the party’s primary on March 19. During his speech, Trump caused quite the outrage over a ‘bloodbath’ comment that drew plenty of criticism from the Democrats. Here’s everything you need to know!
What Did Trump Say?
Here’s the comment that has everyone up in arms: “Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole-that’s gonna be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country. That will be the least of it.”
A clip of him saying those exact words went viral online, and it was immediately met with mixed emotions. Some people were quick to criticize the former President for his hateful rhetoric, but others came to his defense and turned the blame on ‘fake media.’
Trump Critics Unite Over ‘Bloodbath’ Comment
Some of Trump’s loudest critics used the clip as an opportunity to grill the former President. Without issuing any context as to why he said what he said, the Dems shared the clip for their followers to blindly interpret.
Trump, of course, has a history of saying out-of-pocket things in front of large groups of people. The Jan. 6 rally is certainly one of them, but you can also add his ‘poisoning the blood’ remarks about immigrants in December to that list. Here’s what some of Trump’s critics had to say about this one:
3. President Joe Biden
On Sunday (March 17), President Joe Biden posted a clip of Trump’s ‘bloodbath’ remark and shared a simple message with his followers: “It’s clear this guy wants another January 6. But the American people are going to give him another resounding electoral defeat this November.”
On Monday (March 18), Biden posted a campaign ad – using Trump’s ‘bloodbath’ comment as the opening line. “Donald Trump has shown us who he is, time and time again,” Biden wrote in the caption.
2. Former Federal Prosecutor Glenn Kirschner
During the latest episode of his Justice Matters podcast, former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner described Trump as a ‘threat to democracy’ and a ‘threat to everyone in the United States of America.’
“He launched an attack on January 6 against our democracy and it turned out to be a deadly attack. And he launched it with far less inflammatory language than he just used at the rally on Saturday,” Kischner said. “He’s actually ratcheted up the recklessness and the violence of his rhetoric. And he’s on pretrial release in four felony cases.”
1. Rep. Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi was also quick to criticize Trump. The former Speaker of the House was talking to Dana Bush on CNN’s State of the Union when she emphasized the need for a Democratic win this November.
“How much more do they have to see from him to understand that this isn’t what our country is about?” Pelosi said. “Praising Hitler, praising the Russians, honestly, I mean, condemning our soldiers for losing or dying in war or being captured in war.”
Republicans Criticize Dems Over Porpoganda
The Democrats were heavy on the offensive, but the Republicans had Trump’s back – launching a defensive that criticized the opposing party for purposely leaving out context to make Trump look bad. And, in a way, the Republicans were right.
All the clips shared by the Democrats (and Trump critics) were cut down to about 10 seconds. The actual Trump comment was roughly one minute long, and it paints a completely different picture of what he meant. That’s why the Republicans called the Democrats out.
4. Former Vice President Mike Pence
On Sunday (March 17), former Vice President Mike Pence appeared on CBS News’ Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan. When asked about Trump’s comment, Pence agreed that it was, in fact, taken out of context.
“The President was clearly talking about the impact of, of imports, devastating the American automotive industry,” Pence said – though he also clarified that he won’t be voting for Trump in November’s election.
3. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) took to X to highlight the difference between the media’s narrative and the actual context of Trump’s comments. The video she reposted included Trump’s comment, in its entirety, as a measure of proof.
“The Democrats and the media lie constantly about what Pres Trump says. They twist his phrases and sarcasm and tell the public he said something he did not. When Trump said there will be a bloodbath if Biden wins, he was talking about the auto industry and he’s RIGHT!” she wrote on X.
2. Rep. J.D. Vance
Rep. J.D. Vance (R-OH) clarified Trump’s comments and agreed with with the former President was trying to convey to his supporters at the Ohio rally. He also criticized Trump’s critics for spreading propaganda in an effort to sabotage his campaign.
“Donald Trump said that a bloodbath would happen to the American auto industry if Biden kept on promoting Chinese made EVs. He of course is 100 percent correct. All other reporting about his ‘bloodbath’ comment is complete propaganda. The media should be ashamed,” Vance wrote on X.”
1. Rep. Chip Roy
On Saturday (March 16), Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) responded to a statement by the Biden-Harris campaign, which criticized Trump over his continued rhetoric – including the ‘bloodbath’ remark. Roy took a different approach – criticizing the Biden Administration for causing a bloodbath.
“This is a lie. #RadicalProgressiveDemocrats – not Trump – have caused an actual bloodbath for hard-working Americans with mass releases of illegal aliens, expensive job-killing “climate” regulations, and race-baiting division of our nation,” Roy wrote on X.
Was Trump’s Comment Taken Out Of Context?
Yes, Trump’s comment was taken out of context, and he was talking about the auto industry when he mentioned the ‘bloodbath.’ In fact, he was pleading to levy a tariff on cars being imported into the United States, and said it would be a ‘bloodbath’ if he didn’t get the chance.
The full comment was actually: “We’re going to put a 100% 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. Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country, that’ll be the least of it.”
Trump Responds On Truth Social
As he often does, former President Trump took to his social media platform (Truth Social) to defend himself – while also using it as an opportunity to double down on his comment.
“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,” he wrote.
Trump Praises Jan. 6 Insurrectionists
His ‘bloodbath’ comment wasn’t the only thing that went viral on Saturday. Many people also criticized Trump for saluting and honoring the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, some of whom were in attendance. They even went as far as calling them ‘hostages.’
“Thank you very much, and you see the spirit from the hostages, and that’s what they are-hostages,” he said at the beginning of his speech.
