By Emma Barnett and Jillian Frankel -
NBC News
Former President Donald Trump promised this Saturday that there will be "a bloodbath" if he is not re-elected in November.
The comments came as Trump discussed the possibility of an escalating trade war with China over auto manufacturing during a rally in Ohio.
The event was aimed at garnering votes for Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, whom Trump demonstrated his support for in December, ahead of Tuesday's Ohio primary.
[Florida judge rejects a motion by Trump's lawyers to dismiss the classified documents case]
"If you're listening to me, President Xi — and you and I are friends — but you understand my way. Those monster auto manufacturing plants you're building in Mexico now... they're not going to hire Americans and they're going to sell the cars to us, "No. We're going to put a 100% tariff on every vehicle that comes from the border, and they won't be able to sell them if I'm elected," Trump said.
"Now, if I am not re-elected, it will be a bloodbath for the country. That will be the least of it, but they will not sell those cars. They are building gigantic factories."
Then he added:
"If these elections are not won, I am not sure that there will be elections again in this country
. "
Donald Trump during the event in Vandalia, Ohio.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
In response to the former president's comments, his presidential campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told NBC News that "Biden's policies will create an economic bloodbath for the auto industry and its workers."
James Singer, a spokesperson for President Joe Biden's campaign, issued a statement following Trump's statements noting that
former Vice President Mike Pence announced that he will not support Trump's candidacy for re-election.
"This is Donald Trump: a loser who is defeated by more than 7 million votes and then, instead of appealing to a mass audience, insists on his threats of political violence," Singer said.
"He wants another January 6, but the people of the United States will give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge."
[Biden and Trump are the virtual presidential candidates of their parties after victories in this Tuesday's primaries]
Before starting to speak, the former president stood up and saluted next to the podium while "Justice for all" played on speakers performed by the "J6 choir" of inmates awaiting trial for their role in the assault on the Capitol and whom he described as " hostages."
"They have been treated terribly and very unfairly, and everyone knows it," Trump said at the beginning of his speech.
"And we're going to work on it as soon as the first day we're in charge. We're going to save our country, and we're going to work with the people to deal with those incredible patriots."
The former president also asserted during the event that
some undocumented immigrants "are not people
," although he added that "he was not allowed to say that because the radical left claims that it is terrible to say it."
He also asked Catholics not to vote for Biden.
"Any Catholic who votes for that fool is crazy because they are being persecuted," Trump said.
Biden is the second Roman Catholic president to be elected in the United States.