Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, voiced concerns to his supporters on Sunday about gaps in the bullet-proof glass surrounding him during his speech. He jokingly suggested that an assassin would need to shoot through the news media to reach him, adding, “I don’t mind that so much.”
During a lengthy 90-minute rally speech just two days before the U.S. presidential election, Trump pointed out the gaps in the glass around him. Some journalists present at the event in Lititz, Pennsylvania, could see through one of those openings.
The former president has survived two assassination attempts this year, including an incident in July where a bullet grazed his ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
While looking at the gaps, Trump remarked, “To get me, someone would have to shoot through the fake news, and I don’t mind that so much.”
Trump’s comments have become increasingly bold in the final weeks of the campaign. On Friday, Arizona’s top prosecutor began an investigation after Trump suggested that former congresswoman Liz Cheney, a vocal critic, should face gunfire in a combat situation.
After the rally, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung clarified the comments about the media. He stated that Trump was focused on the safety of journalists.
“The president’s remarks about the protective glass were not meant to suggest any harm to the media. It was about threats against him that arise from dangerous comments made by Democrats,” the statement read.
A source familiar with the campaign indicated that Trump’s comment regarding the media was unscripted and pointed out that he often makes off-the-cuff remarks. The source also mentioned that Trump personally requested the statement released by Cheung.
During his speech, Trump spent a significant amount of time criticizing the news media, gesturing toward TV cameras while saying, “ABC, it’s ABC, fake news, CBS, ABC, NBC. In my opinion, these are seriously corrupt people.”
