Trump Suggests 'Violent Day' in Campaign Speech

Donald Trump's recent comments have sparked comparisons to the horror-filled world of The Purge, as he seemingly suggested a drastic approach to tackling crime during a campaign speech in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Following the rally, social media exploded with claims that Trump advocated for a Purge-like strategy to reduce crime, particularly after he discussed giving police "one really violent day" to handle theft. In his speech, Trump criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and ABC's David Muir, referring to their discussions on crime during a recent presidential debate.

Trump stated, “Crime is at a level like we've never seen; it’s rampant.” He emphasized the need for police to have more freedom to act, suggesting they might need to be "extraordinarily rough" in certain situations. He claimed that the "liberal left" is obstructing police efforts to manage crime, particularly actions he alleged were linked to migrants.

He posed a provocative scenario: “What if you had one real rough, nasty day with the drugstores?” He suggested that assigning someone like Republican Congressman Mike Kelly to oversee such an initiative could instantly eliminate crime, mentioning it could be achieved in "one rough hour."

Trump's remarks triggered a significant online backlash, with many users drawing parallels to The Purge franchise, which depicts a fictional America where all crime is permissible for one day each year to help citizens release their violent urges and reduce crime overall.

One social media user wrote, “Donald Trump suggests a Hollywood-style Purge to tackle drug dealers for just one day.” Another remarked on the absurdity of Trump promoting the concept, saying, “You cannot make this up.”

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to Trump’s representatives, as well as the creator of The Purge, James Demonaco, and producers Jason Blum and Brad Fuller for their reactions.

The Purge franchise has been commercially successful, grossing over $534 million worldwide across five films, with a sixth installment reportedly in development.