On Saturday, former President Donald Trump made a bold statement about the potential consequences of losing the 2024 election. He claimed it would spell disaster for the US auto industry and the nation as a whole.
Trump proposed a drastic measure to protect domestic auto manufacturing. He suggested imposing a “100% tariff” on cars manufactured outside the US, arguing that this would safeguard the industry if he were re-elected.
During a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, Trump elaborated on his plan. He stated, “We’re going to put a 100% tariff on every single car that comes across the line. If I get elected, you won’t be able to sell those cars. If I don’t get elected, the country will face a bloodbath. That’s just the beginning.”
Trump’s comments were part of a broader discussion on the auto industry, including unions, the shift to electric vehicles, and auto plants in Mexico. He has been trying to gain the support of autoworkers and voters in Rust Belt states by focusing on trade, tariffs, and electric vehicle manufacturing. He even mentioned to CNBC this month his intention to impose a 50% tariff on cars made in Chinese factories located in Mexico.
The former president also emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming November election to the crowd. He expressed concern that if the election were lost, it might be the last election the country would have.
The rally, held on Saturday, was in support of Bernie Moreno, Trump’s preferred candidate in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary. Despite the challenges posed by strong winds that made using the teleprompter difficult, Trump delivered a wide-ranging speech.
“I can’t read this damn teleprompter,” Trump complained. “It’s like trying to read a moving flag in a 35-mph wind.”
President Joe Biden’s campaign seized on Trump’s use of the term “bloodbath,” suggesting that Trump was inciting violence similar to the events of January 6.
James Singer, a spokesperson for Biden’s campaign, criticized Trump, saying, “This is who Donald Trump is: a loser who, after being defeated by over 7 million votes, doubles down on his threats of political violence instead of trying to appeal to a broader audience.”
In response, Trump’s campaign defended his remarks, stating that he was referring to the negative impact Biden’s policies would have on autoworkers and the auto industry. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump’s campaign, argued that Biden’s policies would lead to an “economic bloodbath” for the industry.
Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign, accused Biden and his campaign of deceptive editing, comparing their tactics unfavorably to those of Roman Polanski.
During his speech, Trump also criticized Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, attacked Biden’s policies on immigration and the economy, and reiterated unfounded claims about the 2020 election being stolen due to widespread voter fraud. He reiterated his promise to pardon individuals charged with crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, referring to them as “hostages.”
Trump made controversial remarks about criminals from other countries, suggesting that they should not be considered “people” in some cases. He specifically mentioned MS-13 gang members, stating, “If you call them people. I don’t know if you call them people in some cases. They’re not people in my opinion, but I’m not allowed to say that because the radical left says it’s a terrible thing to say.”
He further dehumanized undocumented immigrants who commit crimes by labeling them as “animals.”
Trump has made it clear that he intends to focus on immigration and border security as key issues in his campaign. He has proposed expanding his administration’s strict immigration policies, including mass detentions and deportations.
Additionally, Trump has repeatedly used dehumanizing language to describe migrants. Last year, he claimed that they were “poisoning the blood of our country,” a statement that echoes language used by Adolf Hitler.