Donald Trump won’t ratchet back his angry rhetoric on the campaign trail, saying the emotion reflects Americans fed up with government.
“The people are angry,” he said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I am just the messenger.”
“You will not call for ratcheting back the rhetoric?” host Chuck Todd asked. “You will not call for it?”
“I haven’t said anything,” Trump said. “I’m just expressing my opinion. What have I said that’s wrong? I talk about illegal immigration, I talk about building a wall. What have I said that is wrong?”
Americans “are really upset how this country is being run,” Trump said. “It’s a disgrace.”
Trump has come under scrutiny for inciting anger and violence in a bid to boost his support. He canceled a rally in Chicago on Friday due to clashes between his supporters and demonstrators seeking to disrupt the event.
“The reason there is tension at my rallies is these people are sick and tired of this country being run by incompetent people,” Trump said Sunday.
Both Republicans and Democrats have said he should dial +back the rhetoric. Republicans, including rival candidates say Trump is risking his chance to be the GOP’s nominee in July by refusing to denounce violence by his backers.
