It’s been an entire week since the rally held by Donald Trump in Ohio, and a part of his speech still remains a focal point for many. As the primary election progresses, it’s becoming increasingly evident that both Trump and Joe Biden, the respective Republican and Democratic nominees, are adopting a more radical tone in their speeches and public appearances.
Securing the nomination
In the race for the Democratic nomination, President Joe Biden faced little to no competition, securing his party’s nomination with ease. On the other hand, former President Donald Trump last week clinched the Republican nomination by achieving the necessary delegate count, setting the stage for a showdown with Biden in the upcoming general election. Both candidates are ramping up their campaign efforts, hosting more rallies and fundraisers to boost their campaign coffers.
Trump’s rally in Ohio
Last Saturday, Trump campaigned in Ohio for Senate candidate Bernie Moreno. Delivering his speech on a windy airfield just outside Dayton, Trump lauded Moreno as a proponent of the “America first” agenda and a “political outsider” dedicated to enriching Ohio’s communities. This rally took place several days after Trump had secured the Republican nomination, and just before the Ohio primaries, where Trump and Moreno both won the primaries.
The controversial segment of his speech
Trump used the stage to deliver a profanity-filled version of his usual rally speech that again painted an apocalyptic picture of the country if Biden wins a second term.
“If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath. … It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country,” he warned, while talking about the impact of offshoring on the country’s auto industry and his plan to impose a 100% tariff on foreign-made cars. “If this election isn’t won, I’m not sure that you’ll ever have another election in this country,” he then added.
Read also: Wyoming Senator Barrasso criticizing Biden for illegal immigration immediately turns against him

The context
These comments were met with immediate backlash from political opponents, the press, and social media users, especially for his reference to a ‘bloodbath’ should he not win the election. Although he emphasized economic and manufacturing issues, this remark was widely seen as an indirect warning of possible civil unrest similar to the January 6 events, should he be defeated by Biden in the election.
Sen. Brian Schatz instructions
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) was among the thousands of public figures who joined the narrative against Trump, but his comments on X, formerly known as Twitter, sparked a lot of reactions from other users. In his post, Sen. Schatz demands that journalists distort the true meaning of Trump’s words, giving them instructions on how to craft headlines for news stories about Trump’s remarks.
“Headline writers: Don’t outsmart yourself. Just do ‘Trump Promises Bloodbath if he Doesn’t Win Election,'” Schatz wrote on X.
Headline writers: Don’t outsmart yourself. Just do “Trump Promises Bloodbath if he Doesn’t Win Election.”
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) March 17, 2024
Read also: California Rep. Nancy Pelosi turns Trump speech into a tool for Biden’s gain

His remarks backfired
The chilling message — a sitting lawmaker giving out instructions on how the media should report the news and telling reporters to spread a complete lie — did not go unnoticed.
“A U.S. Senator dictating to the corporate media the proper way to cover a story by pushing misinformation to its audience. And most of the corporate media falling right in line,” Steve Krakauer, executive producer of the “Megyn Kelly Show,” said.
“[On the other hand], lying to your readers is bad,” commentator Mary Katharine Ham responded.
“Senator Schatz is suggesting—demanding, even—that the media spread a partisan lie. To acknowledge this does not say anything about you other than that you are able to see what is happening in this discrete case,” National Review writer Charles Cooke noted.
“Democratic senator advises journalists: Don’t think too much about what you write,” writer Byron York mocked.
“Ironically, you’re the one trying to incite violence,” radio host Jason Rantz said.
“Usually these instructions happen in private…” media reporter Joe Concha reacted.