Trump jokes about shooting undocumented migrants during wild rally speech

‘We can’t. Other countries do, we can’t. I would never do that. But how do you stop these people?,’ president asks

Donald Trump laughed and joked after a supporter suggested shooting undocumented migrants who cross into the US from Mexico.

The president was addressing a crowd of thousands at an outdoor amphitheatre in Panama City Beach, Florida, when he spoke about crossings at the southern border.

“When you have 15,000 people marching up, and you have hundreds and hundreds of [immigrants], and you have two or three border security people that are brave and great – and don’t forget we don’t let them and we can’t let them use weapons,” Mr Trump said. “We can’t. Other countries do, we can’t. I would never do that. But how do you stop these people?”

In response, someone from the audience shouted: “Shoot them!”

Mr Trump then appeared to laugh before shaking his head and saying: “That’s only in the Panhandle you can get away with that statement.”

The crowd then erupted into laughter and cheers, and Mr Trump added: “Only in the Panhandle!”

Mr Trump also used the speech to promise federal aid to the Florida Panhandle seven months after Hurricane Michael devastated the region.

The president was hoping to rally loyalists in the reliably Republican corner of the swing state as he campaigns for the 2020 presidency.

Federal emergency funds intended to help the area hit by the category 5 hurricane and elsewhere have been caught up in a standoff in Washington over Mr Trump’s opposition to giving more hurricane aid to Puerto Rico.

“You’re getting your money one way or another,” Mr Trump promised supporters while holding up a chart showing federal emergency aid to Florida, Texas and the island territory, before he added: “And we’re not going to let anybody hold it up.”

He also told his supporters not to worry about upcoming talks between US and Chinese negotiators, including his threat to increase tariffs on nearly all Chinese imports by the end of the week.

“They broke the deal” in talks meant to de-escalate a year-long trade war, he said.

“We won’t back down until China stops,” Mr Trump added. “The era of economic surrender is over.”