At a recent campaign rally in Milwaukee, Donald Trump reacted to technical difficulties by directing his frustration toward the event staff.
As the crowd chanted fix the mic, Trump responded by suggesting he might knock the hell out of people backstage.
He went on to express anger about the faulty equipment, stating he was seething and described how the microphone issues were causing physical strain.
During the rally, Trump also vented about former Chief of Staff John Kelly and later made an unusual gesture with the microphone stand, prompting further reactions online.
The day before, he had referenced a hypothetical, violent scenario involving former Rep. Liz Cheney at a rally in Arizona, which Cheney condemned as how dictators destroy free nations. Vice President Kamala Harris also criticized Trump’s rhetoric, calling it disqualifying.
Trump has faced criticism for similar statements in the past. He previously told supporters to knock the crap out of hecklers and encouraged rough treatment of protesters.
His consistent use of such language has raised concerns about promoting violence within political discourse.