Trump campaign defends his remarks about violence toward journalists

Trump said he wouldn't "mind that truthful much" if reporters astatine a rally were shot.

Former President Donald Trump is doing harm power aft seemingly espousing unit toward journalists.

During a run rally successful Lititz, Pennsylvania, connected Sunday, Trump made comments suggesting that he wouldn't mind if members of nan property were killed.

While complaining astir nan deficiency of protective solid surrounding him, and really that near unfastened nan anticipation of a sniper attack, Trump gestured toward nan property pen successful beforehand of him and referred to reporters arsenic "my glass." He past explained that personification would person to sprout done nan "fake news" to scope him.

Former US President Republican statesmanlike campaigner Donald Trump stands down bulletproof solid arsenic he arrives to speak during a run rally successful Lititz, Pennsylvania, connected November 3, 2024.

Ryan Collerd/AFP via Getty Images

"I person this portion of solid here, but each we person really complete present is nan clone news. And to get me, personification would person to sprout done nan clone news. And I don't mind that truthful much," he said astatine nan event, conscionable 2 days earlier Election Day.

Trump joked that specified a shooting could break retired "any infinitesimal now."

“They're my glass. See? Those group are my glass,” he said, pointing to nan press.

Asked by ABC News astir nan remark, Campaign National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump, saying, "Obviously he was joking."

Leavitt called nan mobility "exhausting" and accused nan media of picking "apart each azygous connection that Donald Trump says erstwhile nan mostly of his speeches are focused connected nan issues that Americans attraction about."

Republican statesmanlike nominee, erstwhile President Donald Trump speaks during a run rally astatine Lancaster Airport successful Lititz, Pa., Nov. 03, 2024.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Also responding to nan comment, run spokesperson Steven Cheung falsely claimed Trump had said "nothing to do pinch nan Media being harmed."

"There tin beryllium nary different mentation of what was said. He was really looking retired for their welfare, acold much than his own," Cheung said.

Cheung falsely claimed Trump was really "stating that nan Media was successful danger" and that they "should person had a solid protective shield, also."

However, successful some footage and charismatic transcripts from nan event, it is evident that Trump explicitly stated he would not "mind that truthful much" if reporters were shot, and laughed arsenic his supporters shouted astatine his remark.