Associated Press
Donald Trump is suggesting that former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, one of his most prominent Republican critics, should have rifles “shooting at her” to see how she feels about sending troops to fight. It was his latest suggestion that his rivals should be targeted with violence.
Cheney responded by branding the GOP presidential nominee a “cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant.”
The Republican presidential candidate has been using increasingly threatening rhetoric against his adversaries and talked of “enemies from within” undermining the country. Some of his former senior aides and Vice President Kamala Harris have labeled him a fascist in response.
At an event late Thursday in Arizona with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Trump was asked whether it was strange to see Cheney campaign against him. The former Wyoming Congresswoman has vocally opposed Trump since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and endorsed Harris, joining the Vice President at recent stops as they try to win over Republicans disaffected with Trump.
Trump called Cheney “a deranged person” and added, “But the reason she couldn’t stand me is that she always wanted to go to war with people. If it were up to her we’d be in 50 different countries.”
The former President continued: “She’s a radical war hawk. Let’s put her with the rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her. OK, let’s see how she feels about it. You know, when the guns are trained on her face.”
“You know they’re all war hawks when they’re sitting in Washington in a nice building saying, oh gee, well let’s send 10,000 troops right into the mouth of the enemy,” Trump said.
Cheney responded Friday in a post on X: “This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death. We cannot entrust our country and our freedom to a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant.”
Earlier, after Harris’ campaign and other Trump critics on social media had pounced on his comment, Trump’s campaign said he “was talking about how Liz Cheney wants to send America’s sons and daughters to fight in wars despite never being in a war herself.”
In another statement, his campaign said Trump “was clearly describing a combat zone.”
The campaign said his comments were about his message that Harris and Cheney would lead to war and young people dying in conflict. He has claimed that if elected President again, he will “prevent World War III” and has falsely claimed that Harris has spoken about reinstating the military draft.
But Trump’s comments seeming to suggest Cheney face a firing squad sparked alarm from his critics.
Throughout his campaign, Trump has been fixated on the Americans he believes have wronged or betrayed him. He has portrayed them as worse than the United States’ foreign adversaries, referring to them as “enemies from within.”
He’s threatened to use the federal government, including the military, to go after them. And he has repeatedly threatened “long term prison sentences” for those “involved in unscrupulous behavior” this election, including political operatives, donors and elected officials.
He said people he labeled as “the enemy from within” should be “very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military.”
Some of Trump’s supporters have said his talk of vengeance is either justified or hyperbole.
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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
18 comments
Joshua Borem
November 1, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Clearly taken WAY out of context. The author should be literally ashamed.
I’m so sick of the press having TDS.
Biden is Garbage
November 1, 2024 at 5:26 pm
They give democrats special treatment. Always.
YEW OWEME
November 2, 2024 at 12:50 pm
MAGA MARK, who is they? punks like you always blame others and don’t accept responsibility for their words or actions. maga has been allowed to be as stupid as they want to be and have continued doing so. that’s called special treatment. all anyone has to do is reverse everything you say, and then the truth will come out. shame on you you low info fool.
\
Ocean Joe
November 2, 2024 at 6:29 am
Agree. And when he said there would be a “bloodbath” he was talking about the economic impact on the auto industry. But his willingness to use incendiary language every single day in order to get attention deserves our attention.
He has coarsened American society, brought us all down to the lowest common denominator. You like his tough talk, all I see is his cruel incompetence. Cheney IS a bit of a warmonger by her record, but Trump’s isolationism and capitulation to Putin, his blundering statements make him the Neville Chamberlain of our time. His divisive language and attacks make him the Joe McCarthy of our time. A bad combo.
Tom
November 1, 2024 at 1:07 pm
You have to give him points for trying. I’m sure there are still a few thousand women that he hasn’t alienated but even at this late stage, he’s still trying.
Biden is Garbage
November 1, 2024 at 5:28 pm
Not as many points as Biden got. He called half the country garbage. Including female trump voters.
YEW OWEME
November 2, 2024 at 1:03 pm
MAGA MARK, you fool, biden is not running for office. who cares if he tells the truth by stating that 45% of the country has garbage political beliefs. the maga cult needs de-programing.
White Spiteful Devil Rapist Trump
November 1, 2024 at 1:13 pm
Trump is mental unstable
Biden is Garbage
November 1, 2024 at 5:28 pm
You are mentally unstable.
YEW OWEME
November 2, 2024 at 2:05 pm
MAGA MARK, a fool like you calling someone mentally unstable is really quite mentally unstable on your part. you are a fool, you shouldn’t call anybody anything, because you are a fool. i’m confident that you will foolishly disregard this post.. BTW , biden is not running for office. garbage gets upset when you call them garbage, go figure
I Am Garbage
November 2, 2024 at 2:16 pm
Yup. Full blown dementia from Rick Whitaker. Sorry Rick but that isn’t me participating in this back and forth. I’m going to have to ask you for a CC#, Zelle, or Venmo as I must be compensated for living in your head. No longer rent free.
KathrynA
November 1, 2024 at 1:39 pm
So many, many of his comments have been appalling and so have many of his actions, but this has to be the worst of all. Wake up people, this man wants to be the vindictive, violent dictator and there are no guard rails to stop him, if elected!! The rule of law does not matter to him and his associates or many of the judges appointed under him. Just plain terrible and horrendous!
PeterH
November 1, 2024 at 1:58 pm
I can no longer keep track of Trump’s “worst of all!” He’s trashed women, minorities, Americans with disabilities, veterans of war past and present, transgender……the list is endless.
Biden is Garbage
November 1, 2024 at 5:30 pm
Biden called half the country garbage. Your selective outrage only proves you are not human. You are a programmed bot.
Michael K
November 1, 2024 at 5:49 pm
He thinks that being mean, nasty, crass, and vulgar is a display of strength. It is not. His mouth has become a toxic cesspool of insults and grievances. He is unfit for the office he seeks.
In any other situation, behavior like this would disqualify him from any leadership positions.
Dont Say FLA
November 1, 2024 at 3:23 pm
The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived ….
Biden is Garbage
November 1, 2024 at 5:21 pm
Is you. Pole smoker.
Elmo
November 1, 2024 at 5:32 pm
Sick creep.
Comments are closed.