President Donald Trump urged the execution of individuals who disclose information to the press during a campaign rally, as he expressed anger over what he considered negative media reporting on the war in Iran .
“In my opinion, leakers should be shot. They should be shot. In the old days, we used to shoot leakers,” The President and his allies have repeatedly criticized news coverage of the Iran war, arguing that it portrays the conflict unfavorably. Late Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that reporters from the organizations could continue accessing White House grounds while their legal challenge against the administration moves forward. The administration has stepped up efforts to probe leaks related to U.S. military operations. In April, Trump threatened to jail reporters who disclosed details of a mission to recover two American airmen after their aircraft was shot down, arguing that the reporting had jeopardized the rescue operation.
Speaking at a campaign event in Bullhead City, Arizona on Wednesday, Trump said.
Critics have cautioned that the administration’s attempts to punish leakers could deter whistleblowers from exposing wrongdoing and undermine transparency and accountability within the government.
Additional rallies are planned for next week, with the president expected to continue campaigning across the country through Election Day. Trump was also scheduled to hold events in Montana later Wednesday and in Georgia on Friday.
