Trump animates California Republicans with calls to shoot people who rob stores

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In a speech delivered at the California Republican Party convention in Anaheim, former President Donald Trump stirred up the crowd with a mix of controversial statements and political positioning. Trump began by highlighting issues in California, including water shortages in Beverly Hills and his unsubstantiated claims of widespread election fraud. However, it was his call for a severe crackdown on crime that drew the most attention.

In a forceful tone, Trump asserted, “We will immediately stop all of the pillaging and theft. Very simply: If you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store,” which was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.

This convention was a gathering of Republican presidential contenders, though the chances of any of them winning California in a general election against President Joe Biden appeared slim. However, the state’s significance in the Super Tuesday primaries could offer a crucial advantage to the winning candidate, with the potential to secure all of California’s delegates if they achieve more than 50% of the vote.

A recent voter survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California revealed Trump’s strong support among likely Republican primary voters, with nearly half of them favoring him. This underscores the potency of Trump’s message within the GOP base, but it raises questions about its broader appeal in a general election.

Trump’s remarks on crime have long been a central theme of his political agenda. He has previously made controversial suggestions, such as shooting migrants at the border, deploying the military against protesters during the George Floyd demonstrations, and advocating for the death penalty in various cases. Trump’s approach to law enforcement has also included urging police to be more forceful in their apprehension of suspects.

The issue of rising crime rates in California has been a point of concern, with violent crimes and incidents like car break-ins and drug use making headlines in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Republicans view crime as an issue that could help them regain support from suburban voters who drifted away from the party during Trump’s leadership.

Trump tapped into the frustrations of California Republicans with the state’s Democratic leadership, blaming them for issues such as homelessness, high taxes, inequality, and crime. He portrayed California as a symbol of America’s decline and pledged to reverse the state’s deterioration.

Despite his 30-point losses in previous California elections, Trump insisted that he would win the state in the next general election and criticized the use of mail-in ballots. Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee launched its “Bank your Vote” initiative in New York, advocating for early voting.

Trump’s decision to skip the second GOP debate and his presence at this convention underscored his status as a dominant figure within the Republican Party, even as he faces legal challenges in multiple criminal cases. Other prominent Republicans, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Tim Scott, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, also addressed the convention.

While some Republican attendees expressed support for Trump’s agenda, Democratic groups protested near the convention site, citing concerns about the state of American democracy in the face of Trump’s legal troubles.

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