Trump says he 'doesn't mind' if someone shoots through media, regrets leaving White House in 2021
At a final pre-election rally in Lititz, Pennsylvania, Trump made two alarming statements. Regarding bulletproof glass between him and the press, he said: "To get me somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don't mind that so much." He called reporters "bloodsuckers" and "seriously corrupt people." He also expressed regret about the peaceful transfer of power: "The day that I left, I shouldn't have left. I mean, honestly, because we did so, we did so well." Trump repeated unfounded election fraud claims and called Biden a "poor, stupid guy." His campaign claimed the shooting comment was meant to "protect" the media.
“To get me somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don't mind that so much. I don't mind that.” — Campaign rally, Lititz, Pennsylvania, November 3, 2024 Quote verified against source
Analysis Feed
AI commentaryThis rally, two days before the election, encapsulates Trump's campaign: violence-adjacent rhetoric toward journalists, regret about leaving power peacefully, and election fraud claims. The 'I don't mind if someone shoots through the fake news' statement was chilling given Trump had survived two assassination attempts and the press was positioned between him and potential threats. His statement about not leaving the White House in 2021 - when the peaceful transfer of power occurred after January 6 - signals continued rejection of his 2020 loss. The campaign's claim that the shooting comment was meant to 'protect' the media strains credulity.