Trump Again Hints At His ‘Tough’ Supporters’ Potential For Violence

US President Donald Trump greets supporters during a Bikers for Trump event at the Trump National Golf Club August 11, 2018 in Bedminster, New Jersey. - Trump welcomed approximately 180 bikers made up of Veterans, la... US President Donald Trump greets supporters during a Bikers for Trump event at the Trump National Golf Club August 11, 2018 in Bedminster, New Jersey. - Trump welcomed approximately 180 bikers made up of Veterans, law enforcement, supporters and members from the Bikers for Trump New Jersey chapter. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Donald Trump made another reference to his supporters’ potential for violence in an interview published Wednesday.

Speaking to Breitbart News, Trump said that while the left “plays a tougher game,” his supporters “are tougher.”

“I can tell you I have the support of the police, the support of the military, the support of the Bikers for Trump – I have the tough people, but they don’t play it tough — until they go to a certain point, and then it would be very bad, very bad,” Trump said. “But the left plays it cuter and tougher.”

It’s hardly the first time Trump’s has talked up — and even goaded — his supporters’ potential for violence.

During the presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly implied that he wanted his supporters to beat up protesters.

“If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you?” he said in February 2016, promising to “pay for the legal fees.”

“Part of the problem, and part of the reason it takes so long [to take protesters out of rallies], is nobody wants to hurt each other any more,” he said a month later.

In 2017, he encouraged police officers to rough up arrestees on the way into squad cars.

Trump presaged Wednesday’s line during the 2018 midterm elections, the Washington Post’s David Nakamura pointed out, when he said of anti-fascist activists: “They’re so lucky that we’re peaceful.”

“Law enforcement, military, construction workers, Bikers for Trump — how about Bikers for Trump?” he continued. “They travel all over the country. They got Trump all over the place, and they’re great. They’ve been great. But these are tough people. These are great people. But they’re peaceful people, and Antifa and all — they’d better hope they stay that way.”

H/t Daniel Dale.

Latest News
99
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    “I can tell you I have the support of the police, the support of the military, the support of the Bikers for Trump – I have the tough people, but they don’t play it tough — until they go to a certain point,

    Unlike Trump, most of the police and military understand and are committed to their vows to protect and obey the Constitution.

    But this is what a coward says and does -hides behind others. Nancy Pelosi would never say something like this nor would need to.

  2. Awww, look at the budding Tyrant, so happy to show off his own motorcycle gang thugs just like his mentor and idol Putin.

  3. They also understand that laws are for everyone, and defending an ungrateful and narcissistic PUNK like Trump is a waste of calories.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

93 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ajm Avatar for milwaukeekent Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for joelopines Avatar for tecmage Avatar for dmp142 Avatar for loretta Avatar for mrf Avatar for darrtown Avatar for tena Avatar for blogamator Avatar for caltg Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for rlsluiter Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for katscherger Avatar for cub_calloway Avatar for edys Avatar for cvonhagel Avatar for justruss Avatar for atldrew Avatar for rascal_crone Avatar for emiliano4

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: