Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) mentioned in an interview on Sunday that some voters are worried about a second term in office for former President Trump because of his comments about immigrants and the potential for a “bloodbath” if he is not reelected.
He also said that the media sometimes exaggerates in reporting such remarks, suggesting that Trump could have been talking about an economic “bloodbath” rather than inciting political violence.
Cassidy stated in an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press” that the overall tone of the speech is why many Americans continue to question whether President Trump should remain in office. This kind of rhetoric is always on the edge, possibly crossing the line, depending on one's perspective.
“I also think though, that the mainstream media contributes to it. If you take the one about the bloodbath, which arguably could be about an economic bloodbath, not about kind of street violence related to the election, then it gives his defenders something to focus on, something which was distorted. So, yes, he always walks up to the edge on that rhetoric. And again, that’s why people are concerned. But sometimes the mainstream media, whether they want to or not, can’t resist, and they go just a little bit too far which distracts from what could be the impact,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy’s comments come after Trump made headlines Saturday night when he said, “I don’t know if you can call them people,” referring to some undocumented immigrants accused of crimes.
“In some cases they’re not people, in my opinion. But I’m not allowed to say that because the radical left says that’s a terrible thing to say,” Trump added.
He also warned of the consequences if he loses the November election, saying President Biden would tank the economy.
“If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole — that’s going to be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country,” Trump said while discussing his proposal for steep tariffs on vehicle imports,” Trump said.
Cassidy distanced himself from the position of the Biden campaign, which denounced the comments as part of Trump’s “threats of political violence.”
“That’s their perspective. They’ve got a candidate who also doesn’t seem fit for office. But you could also look up the definition of bloodbath, and it could be an economic disaster. And so if he’s speaking about the auto industry, in particular in Ohio, then you can take it with a little bit more context,” Cassidy said. That’s why I say you walk up to the line, depending upon the perspective somebody is going to interpret it.”
“He’s running against Biden, so Biden’s gonna say it’s about political violence. His defenders want to defend them. And so they’re gonna say it’s about economic disaster. There’s always just that little bit of tension there. Which allows the dispute about the interpretation, as opposed to the kind of general sort of is this the person we want to have an office,” Cassidy said.
