A White House correspondent is confused about the pushback related to Donald Trump's recent "bloodbath" comments.
Trump, at a rally in Ohio, was speaking about the auto industry when he said there would be a bloodbath if he isn't elected for another term as president. He then said that would be "the least" of it, and warned that it'd be a bloodbath "for the whole... country."
The internet shredded Trump, while MAGA insisted it was all a "hoax." Some conservatives pushed back on that.
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Now, Andrew Egger, White House correspondent for The Bulwark, is chiming in.
"Not to be a 'backlash to the backlash' guy, but I'm so flummoxed by folks insisting Trump was talking about a bloodbath *for the auto industry* if Biden is reelected," Egger said Sunday, including a transcript of the comments Trump made. "He plainly says that car industry problems *will be the least of our worries* in the bloodbath to come!"
He continued:
"Like yes I know the media can overshoot on Trump and denouncing that when it happens is how lots of commentators keep their balls-and-strikes reputations in good order," he added. "But it's possible to participate in a thoughtless backlash too!"
Egger also mentioned President Joe Biden's campaign and its decision to seize on the remarks.
"And I ESPECIALLY don't see why we're supposed to furrow our brows at the Biden campaign sending out a press release like 'Trump says there'll be a 'bloodbath' if he's not reelected.' Like, sorry, that's what he said!" he noted.
He explained further:
"Giving the full quote is good--writers frequently don't do that enough with Trump. But I don't know of any way to interpret 'that's gonna be the least of it--it's gonna be a bloodbath for the country' that isn't him zooming out from an industry concern to talk about the nation."