President Donald Trump on Monday called for the arrest of reporters from The New York Times and other media organizations. His comments followed their coverage of his recent rally in Ohio, held on Saturday. Trump criticized their reports, specifically addressing claims made by New York Times correspondent Katie Rogers.
Trump posted on Truth Social, sharing a video showing people waiting outside the venue. He asserted that the Ohio Arena was already full. In contrast, Rogers reported that by the time Trump finished speaking at Butler High School in Vandalia, several upper deck areas were empty. The venue’s student center can seat approximately 4,500 people, as noted by Rogers.
However, Trump insisted that there were no empty seats and that many people were unable to attend due to the venue reaching maximum capacity. He accused media outlets of dishonesty. Trump has often expressed that these outlets inflate attendance numbers for political events involving figures like Senator Bernie Sanders, but minimize the numbers for his rallies.
In a separate post, Trump maintained that the arena was completely filled, including all upper sections. According to him, individuals often move from upper sections to the main floor during his rallies. Trump included a video from the rally, showing attendees chanting “USA” as he took the stage. At the event, Trump encouraged any attendees willing to give up their seats for those still outside.
The rally featured Trump campaigning for Senator Jon Husted from Ohio. Husted is currently in a tight race against former Senator Sherrod Brown. Former NFL coach Jon Gruden was also present, endorsing Husted as someone who wouldn’t quit.
Trump has a history of criticizing The New York Times, accusing them of biased reporting since his initial presidential campaign. It’s worth noting that earlier in the summer, the Justice Department subpoenaed phone records of Times journalists following their investigative reporting on security concerns around a Qatari-gifted jet meant for Air Force One. The request was subsequently withdrawn.
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