Former President Donald Trump stirred controversy during a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, by suggesting a violent approach to address crime in the U.S., reminiscent of The Purge, a fictional movie series. Trump proposed a "one really violent day" to end criminal activity, specifically mentioning Representative Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) as the person to lead the effort. He added, "One rough hour. And I mean real rough," implying such an action would send a message globally and curb crime. However, Trump did not provide details on how this plan would be executed.
This suggestion has drawn sharp criticism and comparisons to The Purge, a dystopian film series in which crime is allowed for 12 hours once a year. Trump’s remarks also raised concerns due to his past use of inflammatory language, which critics have linked to incidents like the January 6 Capitol attack.
Trump is literally proposing The Purge lmao pic.twitter.com/07uU7IhQ0w
— Armand Domalewski (@ArmandDoma) September 29, 2024
1. Whoever showed him The Purge, please do not show this man any more movies. Maybe Midsommar. We can show him that.
— Dr. Laura Miller šš¹ (@millerlaurac18) September 29, 2024
2. I am EXACTLY the kind of person who'd somehow end up wandering into the purge, so please spare my life and do not vote for this man. https://t.co/shfdI9hXvF
I posted this 10 days ago, and today Trump literally called for 'The Purge' pic.twitter.com/2VwFBwAr5h
— TheRealThelmaJohnson (@TheRealThelmaJ1) September 29, 2024
During the rally, Trump reiterated his often-debunked claim that crime rates are rising, particularly due to migrants. Experts and critics have widely disputed these claims, accusing Trump of fearmongering and spreading misinformation. Trump’s history of provocative statements has been a point of concern for many, especially given the potential impact on public safety
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