By Matthew A. McIntosh / 03.13.2016
On CNN’s “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper, Trump again said he believes Bernie Sanders is sending supporters to disrupt his rallies. He threatened to send his own supporters to do the same to Sanders.
“Bernie Sanders is lying when he says his disruptors aren’t told to go to my events,” Trump said. “Be careful Bernie, or my supporters will go to yours!”
Sanders appeared on the same show following Trump and said, “This man cannot stop lying. I would hope my supporters will not disrupt meetings. We have millions of supporters, and people do things. But it was not our campaign.”
Sanders clarified that while he his supporters may in fact be attending the Trump rallies, they are not doing so at his directions and he does not condone any violence.
Trump’s rallies have been known for violent rhetoric and behavior since he began his campaign, and Sanders pointed to the results from such rhetoric.”
“This a man who keeps implying violence,” Sanders said, “and then you end up getting what you see.”
Trump’s statement wasn’t a threat. It was as good as being said and done. His supporters will no doubt heed his implied call and begin doing the same.
Whether or not they intend to use violence in their attendance at another’s rally as they do at their own remains to be seen.