Rudy Giuliani reassuringly explains that Trump won't actually shoot somebody


Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's attorney, is so confident in his legal strategy that he's willing to apply it to one of Trump's wildest claims.
Giuliani told TMZ that there's no way Trump will be indicted while in office — even if he shoots somebody. The bizarre assertion came up after TMZ asked Giuliani about Trump's 2016 claim that he could "stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" and not face any consequences. But not to worry, Giuliani said: Trump was just using a rhetorical device, not threatening murder.
"He's not going to do that, that's obviously just a metaphor," Giuliani said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Giuliani further explained that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team of investigators can't indict a sitting president, because in order for a commander in chief to be indicted he must first be impeached. "All they get to do is write a report," Giuliani told CNN.
Giuliani said that Mueller, who is leading the investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian meddling in the 2016 election, told Trump's legal team that he would not try and indict Trump if his team found any wrongdoing. There is some disagreement among lawmakers whether the Constitution bars sitting presidents from being indicted, but Giuliani certainly seems unconcerned with the debate. Watch his full comments at TMZ.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
5 museum-grade cartoons about Trump's Smithsonian purge
Cartoons Artists take on institutional rebranding, exhibit interpretation, and more
-
Settling the West Bank: a death knell for a Palestine state?
In the Spotlight The reality on the ground is that the annexation of the West Bank is all but a done deal
-
Sudoku medium: August 23, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfully
Speed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records request
Speed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by Trump
Speed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank plan
Speed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutional
Speed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for rifles
Speed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBI
Speed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'