Trump mimics John McCain, MS-13 stabbings, and a 'fake news' journalist during rowdy campaign rally


During a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, President Trump took on many different roles.
First, he assumed the role of the press, which the White House has deemed the "enemy of the people." Trump was obsessed with his opinion that the media doesn't give him enough positive coverage, a complaint he returned to again and again throughout his 90-minute speech. While reliving the glorious night in 2016 when he won the election, Trump mocked a reporter who he said was panicking while covering the number of votes that Trump received. "His hands start shaking," said Trump, punctuating the impression with "fake news!"
Then the president moved on to a second character: a member of MS-13. While claiming that Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) "doesn't mind MS-13 coming in" to the U.S., Trump acted out a stabbing, calling the gang "the slicers." Trump additionally said that immigrants who win visa lotteries are murderers, and blamed mass violence on migration.
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.
In his final performance, Trump mimicked Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). The president said he would have finally vanquished Obamacare, "except one guy, at 2 o'clock in the morning, went in and said 'thumbs down,'" referring to when McCain was one of the few GOP lawmakers to oppose a repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Slack-jawed, Trump appeared to mock McCain's health, which has declined in recent months as the senator faces brain cancer. Summer Meza
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
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.
-
Today's political cartoons - May 10, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and more
-
5 streetwise cartoons about defunding PBS
Cartoons Artists take on immigrant puppets, defense spending, and more
-
Dark chocolate macadamia cookies recipe
The Week Recommends These one-bowl cookies will melt in your mouth
-
Trump taps Fox News' Pirro for DC attorney post
speed read The president has named Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to be the top federal prosecutor for Washington, replacing acting US Attorney Ed Martin
-
Trump, UK's Starmer outline first post-tariff deal
speed read President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Kier Starmer struck a 'historic' agreement to eliminate some of the former's imposed tariffs
-
Fed leaves rates unchanged as Powell warns on tariffs
speed read The Federal Reserve says the risks of higher inflation and unemployment are increasing under Trump's tariffs
-
Denmark to grill US envoy on Greenland spying report
speed read The Trump administration ramped up spying on Greenland, says reporting by The Wall Street Journal
-
Supreme Court allows transgender troop ban
speed read The US Supreme Court will let the Trump administration begin executing its ban on transgender military service members
-
Hollywood confounded by Trump's film tariff idea
speed read President Trump proposed a '100% tariff' on movies 'produced in foreign lands'
-
Trump offers migrants $1,000 to 'self-deport'
speed read The Department of Homeland Security says undocumented immigrants can leave the US in a more 'dignified way'
-
Trump is not sure he must follow the Constitution
speed read When asked about due process for migrants in a TV interview, President Trump said he didn't know whether he had to uphold the Fifth Amendment