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A look back at Trump comments perceived by some as inciting violence

"Tear gas and burning cars in US cities as unrest continues"

"When the looting starts, the shooting starts," Trump tweeted on Floyd protests.

By Libby Cathey and Meghan Keneally

30 May 2020, 19:00

25 min read

VIDEO - Outrage over Trump's tweet on looting and shooting 2:23

President Donald Trump has threatened military intervention in Minnesota in response to protests after the death of George Floyd in police custody, tweeting, "when the looting starts the shooting starts" -- the latest example of his comments appearing to encourage or support violence.

The most recent instance even prompted Twitter to post a warning label .. https://abcnews.go.com/US/twitter-flags-trump-white-house-glorifying-violence-tweet/story?id=70945228&cid=clicksource_4380645_2_heads_hero_live_hero_related .. on the president's tweet -- and on an official White House tweet which identical language -- claiming the tweets violated its rules about "glorifying violence."

The White House later argued that Trump was not inciting violence but "clearly condemned it."

It's far from the first time his aides have disputed the idea that Trump, both as a candidate and now as president, condones violence.

Trump himself has repeatedly refuted the idea that he has incited infighting in American communities, dismissing people who have criticized his rhetoric.

Here are some examples:

[...]

Trump tweets threat to protesters in Minnesota

In response to protests after the death of George Floyd in police custody, Trump blamed a lack of local leadership on the unrest, called protesters "THUGS" and even appeared to suggest shooting at looters.

"These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!" Trump tweeted shortly before 1 a.m. Friday.

[...]

Trump tells Virginians their Second Amendment in 'under siege,' protesters under stay-at-home order to 'LIBERATE!' amid pandemic

Amid unrest in states under stay-at-home orders as the novel coronavirus encroached on the country, Trump in April 2020 sided with those protesting their Democratic governors. Appearing to refer to the Virginia state legislature flipping blue, Trump told residents of the state their Second Amendment rights were under fire.

The president tweeted his support of Michiganders, Minnesotans and Virginians protesting against restrictions, saying in separate all-caps tweets: "LIBERATE MICHIGAN!; LIBERATE MINNESOTA!; LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!"

[...]

Trump reportedly suggests shooting migrants crossing border in the legs: Sources

Frustrated with a record number of people seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2019, Trump at one point asked in a private meeting with close aides whether the U.S. could shoot migrants below the waist to slow them down.

The account, first reported in a book excerpt released .. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/01/us/politics/trump-border-wars.html .. by the The New York Times, was confirmed to ABC News by a senior administration official who was in the room at the time, as well as several other sources who were later briefed on the conversation.

[...]

Trump attacks news media one day after pipe bombs sent to CNN office, former presidents

Following months of Trump stepping up his attacks on both Democrats and the news media, just two weeks out from the 2018 midterms, one fervent supporter of Trump mailed at least 16 pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and media outlets. Trump briefly condemned the actions, before returning to his old rhetoric.

"In these times we have to unify," Trump said at first. "We have to come together and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America."

[...]

Trump defends white-nationalist protesters: "Some very fine people on both sides"

Trump defended the white nationalists who protested in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017, saying there were "some very fine people on both sides" of the rally which left one woman dead, while expressing sympathy for their demonstration against the removal of a statue of Civil War Confederacy General Robert E. Lee.

[...]

"Please don't be too nice" to suspects, Trump tells police

Trump seemed to encourage .. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-police-nice-suspects/story?id=48914504 .. police to be more violent in handling potential offenders during a speech to law enforcement officers in July 2017.

[...]

Trump tweets disparaging comments, videos of journalists

Often calling the press the "enemy of the people," Trump has taken aim at journalists several times from the campaign trail to the Oval Office.

On July 2, 2017, Trump shared the doctored video .. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/critics-pounce-trump-cnn-wrestling-tweet/story?id=48405044 , from a 2007 WWE skit in which he is seen taking down WWE owner Vince McMahon. In the version Trump shared, McMahon's face is blocked by the CNN logo.

[...]

Trump says body-slammer is "my kind of guy"

During a rally for Montana Republicans ahead of the midterms, Trump praised Rep. Greg Gianforte, who allegedly body slammed a reporter back when he was initially running for his congressional seat in 2017.

"Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my type!" Trump said on Thursday to cheers.

[...]

Weighing in on protesters in 2016 campaign trail

Protesters regularly interrupted Trump's rallies during the 2016 presidential campaign -- which he often mentioned in his speeches.

In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on the day of the Iowa caucuses, for instance, he told audience members he would pay their legal fees if they engaged in violence against protesters.

[...]

Trump sued for "incitement to riot"

Three protesters who claim they were roughed up by Trump supporters at a March 1, 2016, rally in Louisville, Kentucky, filed a federal suit against Trump, accusing him of inciting violence.

Trump's lawyers tried to get the case dismissed by saying his comments are protected by the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech and that he did not intend for his words to incite violence.

But federal Judge David Hale rejected that argument in April 2017 and said there was sufficient evidence that the protesters' injuries were a "direct and proximate result" of Trump's comments, according to The Associated Press.

Trump was allowed to appeal the case, and a federal appeals court has ruled in the president's favor in September 2018, dismissing the claims.

The three-judge panel said that Trump saying "Get 'em out of here" during the Louisville rally was not a valid claim of "incitement to riot," which is a misdemeanor under Kentucky law.

[...]

Trump: I could "shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters"

Back in January 2016, Trump first said a line that would become a flashpoint for his campaign, boasting that support for his campaign would not decline even if he shot someone in the middle of a crowded street.

"I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters," Trump said at a campaign rally in Iowa.

Recounting a childhood story

Decades before launching his political career, Trump started crafting his public image with the release of his book "The Art of the Deal," published in 1987. In that book, he described an incident when he was younger that stood out as a memorable moment.

"Even in elementary school, I was a very assertive, aggressive kid," Trump wrote. "In the second grade I actually gave a teacher a black eye -- I punched my music teacher because I didn't think he knew anything about music and I almost got expelled. I'm not proud of that but it's clear evidence that even early on I had a tendency to stand up and make my opinions known in a very forceful way. The difference now is that I like to use my brain instead of my fists."

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/back-trump-comments-perceived-encouraging-violence/story?id=48415766