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Donald Trump has stepped up his inflammatory rhetoric against the media, European nations and even polls, accusing them of conspiracies and deception against his campaign. During a rally in Pennsylvania, a key location for presidential candidates, Trump uttered words aimed at warming the hearts of his supporters, generating controversy even among his own allies.
Attack on the press: “I wouldn’t mind if they shot the media”
The shocking declarations were not long in coming. Trump has expressed his contempt for the media, defined as “severely corrupt”, going so far as to say that he would not “mind if someone shot the media”. The words, spoken during the rally, aroused the indignation of observers, as they seem to justify violent hostility towards the press, a fundamental pillar of democracy. The former president is no stranger to outbursts against journalists, already defined in the past as “enemies of the people”, but this statement has raised further concern for the climate of intolerance that could result.
L’Europa is “intimidating”
Not only the press, but also Europe has ended up in Trump’s sights. In a speech enriched with polemical references and jokes, the tycoon accused European countries of “robbing” the United States. “They think we’re stupid,” he said, even playing a caricature version of Angela Merkel with a German accent, to underline his irritation with the economic policies of the European continent. Trump then threatened to raise further tariffs against Europe, accusing it of taking advantage of America, an argument that had already found ample space during his mandate, generating a context of trade tensions.
“False and corrupt” polls
Trump has contested the legitimacy of the polls, in particular those of the New York Times, calling them “false” and “corrupt”. His team accused the newspaper of manipulating data to discourage its voters by releasing polls that would put Trump behind Vice President Kamala Harris. For the former president, such polls would be part of a “plot” to “suppress” the support of his voters. This is not the first time Trump has raised doubts about the integrity of polls and the media, a strategy that appears aimed at delegitimizing any results unfavorable to his campaign.
“The dems will cheat”
The climate of mistrust extends towards the electoral process itself. Trump has insinuated that Democrats are planning fraud to ensure victory at the polls. Kamala Harris has been labeled a “left-wing extremist” and “corrupt.” Trump reiterated that Democrats will try to extend the time for announcing the results, insinuating that the goal is to manipulate the outcome in their favor. The former president also declared that such behavior deserves prison.
