At an event in 2017, Trump
encouraged the police to rough up protesters. "Please don't be too nice," Trump said.
In 2018, Trump praised then-Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT) for
assaulting a reporter. "Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my type!" Trump said. "You know, that’s nothing to be embarrassed about." Gianforte pled guilty to misdemeanor assault.
During the protests following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, Trump tweeted, "
when the looting starts, the shooting starts." The phrase was used by notorious segregationist George Wallace and others to justify police brutality.
In a September 2020 presidential debate, Trump refused to denounce the Proud Boys, a militant far-right organization, telling the group to "
stand back and stand by."
After he was indicted for fraud in New York in March 2023, Trump warned of "
potential death & destruction" that "could be catastrophic for our country" if he was convicted.