![trump (25) Democrats](https://alphanews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/trump-25-696x464.jpeg)
Prominent Minnesota Democrats joined a national chorus condemning former President Donald Trump for remarks he made at a rally in Ohio on Saturday.
Campaigning for Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno in the lead-up to the state’s Republican primary on Tuesday, Trump touched on topics such as car imports, migration, and gang violence.
Addressing the issue of Chinese auto manufacturers building plants in Mexico in what he described as an attempt to evade U.S. import taxes, Trump said he would take a hardline stance on Chinese-made cars in Mexico and “put a 100% tariff on every single car that comes across” the border.
Media narrative: Trump just called for a bloodbath if he loses the election
Trump is predicting a bloodbath in the automobile industry if he loses: pic.twitter.com/uO8DTwbp4Z
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 16, 2024
Trump added the caveat: “If I get elected,” saying, “If I don’t get elected, it’s gonna be a bloodbath for the whole — that’s going to be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.” He went on to say the Chinese are “not gonna sell those cars” that way, and went on to talk about a friend who manufactures cars in the U.S.
Many Democrats and media outlets took the quote out of context to falsely suggest that Trump was implicitly or explicitly calling for political violence if he loses in November.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, quoting an NBC News article claiming that “Trump says there will be a ‘bloodbath’ if he loses the election,” said, “No, there will not be,” and that both the winner and loser of the presidential election will work together “like patriots who love our democracy” instead.
No, there will not be. Whoever loses the election will call and congratulate the winner. Then we’ll work together to build a more perfect union like patriots who love our democracy.https://t.co/repESC5byY
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) March 17, 2024
Sen. Amy Klobuchar repeated the inference that “bloodbath” referred to political violence and said that “our very democracy” depends on re-electing Joe Biden in November.
This weekend Donald Trump predicted a “bloodbath” and that the U.S. would never have another election if he does not win in November. (NYT).
Turn out for @JoeBiden and reach out to independents and moderate Republicans like our very democracy depends on it. It does.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) March 17, 2024
Minnesota’s other U.S. senator, Tina Smith, also suggested that Trump was referring to some form of political violence if he loses the election.
Lots of headlines about Trump out there today, so here’s a quick roundup.
Donald Trump:
— Wants a national abortion ban
— Can’t pay his New York bond
— Suggests a ‘bloodbath’ if he loses again— Tina Smith (@TinaSmithMN) March 18, 2024
Also stirring controversy were remarks Trump made about MS-13 and other criminal migrants crossing the Mexican border into America. Arguing that Latin American countries are bringing their prisoners to the border to enter America, he said, “These are hardened criminals” who are “not people … these are animals, okay? We can’t have another Laken [Riley].”
The Star Tribune, republishing an article from The New York Times, ran a headline claiming “Trump says some migrants are ‘not people,’” inferring that he meant migrants in general rather than criminals and gang members.
Reporting by @nytimes: Trump says some migrants are 'not people' and predicts a 'blood bath' if he loses https://t.co/ejUoDcf5gI
— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) March 17, 2024
Former Minnesota State Rep. Carlos Mariani quoted the same New York Times article, calling Trump “disgusting and hateful.” Referring to Trump’s “bloodbath” comment and his comments about violent criminals, he called Trump “pathetic” and said his “words give permission to hurt others.”
He’s disgusting and hateful. History is full of of pathetic men like him whose words give permission to hurt others.
Threatens our ability to be a civilized people.
America deserves way better. https://t.co/haX58GUaLe— Carlos Mariani (@Cmarianirosa) March 17, 2024
Trump was in Ohio to support the Senate candidacy of Bernie Moreno, a Colombian immigrant who was born in Bogota and moved to America with his family when he was five years old. Moreno became a U.S citizen upon turning 18, and was a successful entrepreneur before turning to politics.
Shane Hachey
Shane Hachey is a journalist and blogger based in the Twin Cities. He covers national politics, race, and local issues. Prior to that, he studied history at Columbia and law at Harvard Law School, and he was an Army Military Policeman for five years stationed in Germany, Yugoslavia, and Fort Hood, Texas.