The corporate media has spun a narrative around a statement from former President Donald Trump, suggesting a dire outcome if he doesn’t win the 2024 presidential election. This narrative paints a picture of Trump predicting a “bloodbath” in a negative light.
Trump spoke at a rally in Vandalia, a suburb of Dayton, Ohio, where he addressed his plans to tackle the issue of Chinese automobile manufacturers setting up shop in Mexico to take advantage of lower labor costs, subsequently selling these cars in the U.S. market.
He promised a hefty “100% tariff” on Chinese cars made in Mexico if he were to be elected again. Trump’s warning to Chinese leader Xi Jinping was clear: such cars would face significant tariffs if they crossed into the United States under his administration.
Trump emphasized the severe economic implications for the country if he were not elected, mentioning a “bloodbath” for the nation, but clarified that the inability to sell Chinese cars in the U.S. would be a primary concern.
The Biden-Harris reelection campaign’s official social media account selectively clipped Trump’s statement, focusing solely on his use of the term “bloodbath,” omitting the context related to economic policies and tariffs.
This selective editing led to widespread media coverage, with several outlets highlighting the “bloodbath” comment without the full context, suggesting Trump was inciting political violence if he lost the 2024 election. Outlets like NBC News, The New York Times, CBS News, Politico, NPR, Rolling Stone, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Hill, and The Washington Examiner ran headlines that focused on this aspect of Trump’s speech.
Interestingly, CNN was among the few that provided a more nuanced view of Trump’s statement, linking the “bloodbath” comment to potential economic fallout in the auto industry and the country at large, should he lose the election.
The Trump campaign responded to inquiries about the “bloodbath” remark by emphasizing the economic consequences of Biden’s policies on the auto industry and workers.
The Biden-Harris campaign issued a statement condemning Trump’s rhetoric, accusing him of promoting political violence and racism, and highlighting opposition from figures like former Vice President Mike Pence.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also weighed in, questioning the implications of Trump’s “bloodbath” comment and criticizing his past statements and actions.
The controversy stems from a broader context of Trump’s remarks and policies, with some media outlets choosing to focus on a single, decontextualized term to frame the narrative.