Trump speaks of shootings at the press and raises election fraud allegations at the election rally in Parliament – ​​NBC4 Washington

Donald Trump gave a profane and conspiratorial speech two days before the presidential election in which he spoke of reporters being shot and suggested he “shouldn't have left” the White House after his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. .

In remarks on Sunday that bore no resemblance to his standard speech in the closing stages of the campaign, the former president repeatedly expressed doubts about the integrity of the vote and revived old complaints about criminal prosecution after he tried to overturn his defeat four years ago to undo. Trump escalated his verbal attacks against a “totally incompetent” national leadership and the American media, at one point turning his Pennsylvania rally on the topic of violence against members of the press.

The Republican nominee for the White House noted the ballistic glass placed in front of him at events following the July assassination attempt on a gunman at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and Trump spoke about places where he saw gaps in that protection .

“I have this piece of glass here,” he said. “But all we really have here is fake news. And to get me, someone would have to shoot through the fake news. And that doesn’t bother me that much.”

It was the second time in recent days that Trump spoke of guns being pointed at people he considers enemies. He suggested that former Rep. Liz Cheney, a prominent Republican critic, would be unwilling to support foreign wars if there were “nine barrels firing at her.”

Trump's campaign faced criticism for suggesting violence against the media and later downplayed his comments.

“The president's statement about the placement of protective glass has nothing to do with harming the media or anything else,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. Instead, he claimed that Trump implied that reporters were “in grave danger themselves and should have worn a glass shield as well.” There can be no other interpretation of what has been said. He actually cared about her well-being far more than his own!”

Trump also revived falsehoods about elections, arguing that he could only lose to Democrat Kamala Harris if he was cheated, even though polls suggested a very close race.

“It's a crooked country,” Trump grumbled to his crowd on a chilly airport tarmac, returning to the rancor that characterized the early days of his campaign. “They're going to want to put you in jail because you want to fix it.” Think about it, think about it. They cheat in elections and if you call them they want to put you in jail.”

Trump has been impeached over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in both Washington and Georgia.

Some of his allies, particularly former chief strategist Steve Bannon, have encouraged Trump to declare victory early on Tuesday evening after the polls close, even though the race is still early. That's exactly what Trump did four years ago, sparking months of denials and lies that culminated in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

For most of this year, Trump ran a relatively disciplined campaign, emphasizing the issues his advisers believe could help him win, even as he clung to false theories about voter fraud and often digressed, sparking controversy. But this discipline is increasingly breaking down.

Trump in recent weeks has made jokes about golfer Arnold Palmer's genitals, continued to use gendered or sexist language in his efforts to win over women, and hosted a rally at New York's Madison Square Garden with speakers who used crude and racist slurs statements that continue to dominate the headlines.

The darker and more profane tone of his campaign comes from the fact that the former president, long a fan of WWE's masculine pageantry, accompanied his rallies to the ominous, tolling bell music once used by the wrestler known as “The Undertaker.” “

Still, Trump delivered a fairly consistent short speech most days, supported by a series of videos that kept him on script, even as he shifted from topic to topic in a discursive style he referred to as “the weave.” But outside Lancaster airport, he completely abandoned his planned remarks, skipping his usual points on the economy, immigration and routine criticism of Harris.

Trump's comments in Pennsylvania were not planned, according to a person familiar with them, noting that Trump is known to make spontaneous statements. Although it was unclear exactly what triggered Trump, his campaign had released a memo earlier in the day criticizing new New York Times polls that again showed the race was extremely close in the seven major swing states.

Trump had spoken by phone before taking the stage with two reporters who mentioned polls, including one who asked him if he thought he could lose in any way.

Trump was frustrated that the campaign remained locked in a close fight until the end. He thinks Harris is an unworthy opponent and can't understand why he doesn't dominate, said a Republican familiar with the dynamics of the campaign who, like others, was granted anonymity to discuss it.

Another Republican blamed last-minute fear — and Trump having to trust a system he believes is rigged against him.

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday called his rally at Madison Square Garden, where several speakers uttered crude and racial slurs, a “love fest.”

Trump's allies applauded his speech and said they were glad he shone a light on concerns about fraud in the final stretch of the race.

Harris pushed back against Trump's characterization of the U.S. election, telling reporters on Sunday that Trump's comments were “intended to distract from the fact that we have and support free and fair elections in our country.” Those “good systems” were in place in 2020, Harris said, and “he lost.”

The vice president said she has confidence in the upcoming vote and urged voters, “especially those who haven't voted yet, not to fall for this tactic, which I think includes suggesting to people that their vote doesn't matter.” plays when they go to vote.”

Trump, for his part, acknowledged that his conspiratorial speech was a departure from his usual approach. He spoke repeatedly about ignoring his advisers' advice, echoing their feedback in a mocking tone and insisting that he had to talk about voter fraud despite their objections.

At his next appearance a few hours later at an airport in Kinston, North Carolina, Trump returned to much of his usual script, alternating between prepared remarks and familiar stories.

At one point he said, “Hopefully we get rid of Mitch McConnell soon,” undercutting the Senate Republican leader who earlier this year supported Trump even as he blamed him for the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

“Can you believe he supported me?” Trump added a minute later, laughing. “That must have been a painful day in his life.”

He took the stage for a third time Sunday night in Macon, Georgia, sticking more closely to his prepared remarks and focusing heavily on immigration.

Trump told his supporters that they would “save our country” in two days and that they were “on the verge of the four greatest years in American history.”

“You watch. It will be so good. It's going to be so much fun. “It will be a little uncomfortable at times, maybe especially at the beginning,” he said. “But it will be something.”

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Cooper reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Darlene Superville in Detroit, Jeff Amy in Macon, Georgia, and Michelle L. Price and Bill Barrow in Washington contributed to this report