Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
Jimmy Williams
In a rally marked by vitriol and name-calling, former President Donald Trump directed a wave of incendiary comments at his political adversaries, including a disturbing insinuation of violence against former Rep. Liz Cheney. The remarks, delivered in Arizona just days before the election, have spurred widespread condemnation and renewed scrutiny of Trump’s rhetoric as he seeks to return to the White House.
Sitting alongside conservative media figure Tucker Carlson in front of a packed Arizona crowd, Trump referred to President Joe Biden as a “stupid bastard” and branded Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent, a “sleaze bag.” He further escalated his rhetoric by suggesting that Cheney, a top critic, would not be such a “war hawk” if she had “guns trained on her face.”
“She’s a radical war hawk,” Trump said of Cheney, adding, “Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her … let’s see how she feels about it.”
Trump’s campaign defended the statement, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt asserting that he was “explaining that warmongers like Liz Cheney are very quick to start wars and send other Americans to fight them.” But critics viewed it as yet another instance of Trump’s willingness to use violent rhetoric against those who oppose him.
Rep. Liz Cheney quickly condemned the remarks, posting on X: “This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death.”
The former president’s remarks have drawn rebukes from both sides of the political aisle. Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, a survivor of a 2011 assassination attempt, called on Republicans to denounce Trump’s language, stating, “Declaring that a person should be shot simply for supporting a different candidate is un-American.”
Trump’s attacks extended to other figures, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, calling her “a sick, repulsive person,” and even proposed letting vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. oversee healthcare policy in a future Trump administration. “He wants to look at the vaccines … he can do anything he wants,” Trump said of Kennedy, further alarming health experts already concerned by misinformation around vaccines.
In Maricopa County, Arizona, where his rally was held, Trump’s combative tone underscored his strategy to energize his base with fiery rhetoric. Polls have shown that independents, suburban voters, and particularly women—a demographic he struggles to attract—hold reservations about his campaign. Women have been voting early at significantly higher rates than men, a trend favoring his opponent.
Harris seized on these sentiments, telling NBC News that Trump’s recent comments “devalue” women, pointing to his comment that he would “protect women whether they like it or not” as an example of his dismissive attitude.
Trump also floated a plan to have tech billionaire Elon Musk help drastically reduce federal spending by $2 trillion annually, a proposal without details but one that Trump said Musk believed was achievable.
As Election Day draws near, the Trump campaign appears to have abandoned broader outreach, focusing instead on loyal followers, right-wing personalities, and divisive rally speeches.
