Yahoo News Trump Seemingly Suggested Crime Could Be Controlled With "One Really Violent Day," And It's Dark
Almost four years after being accused of inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, twice-impeached former president Donald Trump's speech is once again being looked at as a call for violence.
On Sunday, during a campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump was touting his usual incorrect claims that crime in the US is rising (it's not) while suggesting that this is a fault of immigration (also untrue).
The 78-year-old then turned the crowd's attention to Republican representative Mike Kelly, who he says should be put in charge of one "really violent night."
Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images
"If you had one really violent day... One rough hour, and I mean real rough, the word will get out and it will end immediately," Trump said.
Trump on theft: If you had one really violent day.. .. … One rough hour. And I mean real rough. The word will get out and it will end immediately. pic.twitter.com/DkOdULcV32
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 29, 2024
Newsmax / Via Twitter: @Acyn
The reaction online was immediate, with most people drawing parallels between Trump's words and the plot of The Purge film series, in which all crime is deemed legal for a 12-hour period once a year.
Who let him watch the Purge
— Bill DeMayo (@BDeMayo) September 29, 2024
In the franchise, the government sanctions these criminal actions...
Trump must have watched The Purge: Anarchy last night on TV and thought “Hmmm, that’s what we’ll do.”The guy is certifiable.
— Duncan Ritchie (@DuncanJRitchie) September 30, 2024
...suggesting it will help calm social unrest.
The Purge. He wants the purge.
— JoeWrote (@joemayall) September 29, 2024
Others considered Trump's call for Rep. Kelly to lead the night and wondered aloud who would enforce his plan.
Is he just outright encouraging police brutality??
— Douglas Farmer (@D_Farmer) September 29, 2024
To put it simply, people couldn't believe a man running for president would openly call for a "really violent day."
So he’s publicly calling for violence yet again? 🤔
— Tonya Bailey (@tbailey1976) September 30, 2024
It's chilling, to say the least.
I study dictators and this chills me. Given all his comments in the past about executing people & shooting looters and his admiration for leaders specialized in mass repression, it's not hard to imagine what "one really violent day" would mean. https://t.co/5Z2RVH1273
— Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@ruthbenghiat) September 29, 2024
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
