Trump's 'violent language' is 'meant to scare people into submission': GOP strategist

During a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, this Saturday, Donald Trump promised a "100 percent tariff" on cars manufactured outside the U.S., saying that if he's elected president, auto manufacturing jobs for Americans would be protected.

However, Trump's speech drew more scrutiny when he argued that him not being elected would mean a "bloodbath" for the American auto industry.

“We’re going to put a 100% tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and you’re not going to be able to sell those guys if I get elected,” Trump said during a rally in Vandalia, Ohio. “Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole – that’s gonna be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country. That’ll be the least of it.”

It was Trump's used of the word "bloodbath" that sparked controversy, prompting his critics to say it was just another example of him using violent language to signal to the most radical elements of his base.

Many of Trump's defenders, however, said the focus on the word "bloodbath" was a purposeful attempt to take Trump's words out of context to falsely suggest he was stoking violence. But even opponents of Trump accused journalists and headline writers of spreading disinformation, saying there are plenty of examples of Trump using extreme rhetoric one can cite without stretching reality.

Speaking on CNN this morning, Republican political strategist Rina Shah agreed that Trump's words were being taken out of context, but she stopped short of making a media critique and instead said that we need to take a broader look at Trump's potential for sparking violence.

According to Shah, Trump's "track record" speaks for itself.

"He always says what he means and means what he says," Shah said. "And so his use of violent language is purposeful. Whenever he injects a word that is charged, that is meant to scare people into submission, so this is a situation where two things can be true at the same time -- yes, the word 'bloodbath' was taken out of context, I'm someone who listens to a lot of financial market talk and that is a word when used with the auto industry that's been done before. But again, the former president knows what he's doing with language."

Watch the video below or at this link.

Political strategist Rina Shah talks about Trump's "bloodbath" comments on CNN.www.youtube.com