Donald Trump told attendees during a campaign rally in a suburb of Dayton Ohio on Saturday, that “It’s going to be a ‘bloodbath’ for the United States and that’s going to be the least of it,” yelling from a podium amidst cheers. 

Among other promises he made to the crowd was full pardons for those convicted of felony charges for their parts in the Jan. 6, 2021 attempted overturn after the 2020 election results and subsequent attack on the Capitol. 

Trump continues to push the unevidenced election “fraud” theory at his rallies when he decries the events of Jan. 6 and that those convicted as insurrectionists are actually “hostages” being held and that his first action as President will be to issue pardons. 

The Biden-Trump rematch will be more contentious than the 2020 race and both Trump and Biden will highlight the events on Jan. 6, but in stark differences. 

President Biden continues to remind Americans in his own campaign speeches that the events of  Jan. 6 should serve as a bitter reminder and warning of the political danger to come—and that this election matters more than ever for the fate of democracy.  

One Valley Vietnam veteran told Northeast Valley News when asked about Trump’s “bloodbath” comments on Saturday that he believes most Americans don’t line up with Trump and the insurrectionists that tried to take over on Jan. 6, “Don’t be intimidated by a traitor, that’s why we served our country, to protect it from dictators like Trump” said Stanley Kaczmarek.

At a downtown Phoenix St. Patrick’s day gathering Austin Paetz of Goodyear told Northeast Valley News what he thought about the comments Trump made on Saturday. 

“Well, if this guy can keep getting away with these kinds of things and we still elect him, it might be time to think about getting out of here.”

Another St. Patrick’s Day party goer was more upbeat and even optimistic about the election,

“I really don’t think that when people go to vote that the majority of this country will vote for Donald Trump, but if they do, he won’t be in office long if he tries to be a dictator, we won’t let that happen,” said Donna Herrera.  

On Friday, Trump’s former running mate, Vice President Mike Pence announced he would not endorse Trump in 2024. 

On Jan. 6, Trump supporters that raided the Capitol also called for Pence to be hanged after Trump targeted him upon Pence’s refusal to aid his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.