President Donald Trump told supporters that government leakers should face the death penalty for sharing classified information.
President Donald Trump recently suggested that government leakers deserve the death penalty. He spoke to his supporters at a rally in Bullhead City, Arizona.
Also, the president claimed that people who secret information with the media harm national security. He specifically mentioned military operations during his speech.
Next, Trump pointed to a past attack on Iran. He said that a leak about the timing of the mission put soldiers in danger.
Then, the president accused news outlets like CNN and The New York Times of publishing sensitive details. He claimed these reports forced him to change his military plans.
As a result, Trump demanded harsh punishments for those responsible. He suggested that leakers should face either life in prison or execution.
Meanwhile, the White House has worked hard to stop leaks within the government. Officials often force staff and military members to take polygraph tests.
After that, the administration used subpoenas to find sources. These legal actions targeted journalists at major newspapers to reveal who provided internal documents.
Still, the media has pushed back against these efforts. A federal court previously blocked new rules that limited how reporters could cover the Pentagon.
Later, critics noted that Trump has long expressed anger toward leakers. He previously demanded similar punishments during his first term in office.
Finally, the president reiterated his strong stance to his supporters. He called leakers the scum of the earth and urged for very strong action.