Former US President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that the United States would face dire consequences if he did not win in November, describing it as a potential "bloodbath."

“Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s gonna be a bloodbath. That’s going to be the least of it,” Trump said during a rally near Dayton, Ohio, adding “It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.”

Although the former president's exact intentions were unclear, his remarks were made in the context of his dissatisfaction with the automobile industry. He then reassured the crowd that, if reelected, he would "prevent China from selling any vehicles imported into the US."

Trump consistently portrays a "bleak image" of the nation as he presents his argument against President Joe Biden in anticipation of November's presidential rematch. He frequently employs escalating rhetoric, particularly when discussing the felony charges he faces and his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election leading up to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

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According to a report by Politico, the events of January 6 loom large over his campaign events, with Trump persistently denouncing the election he lost four years ago. Trump commenced Saturday’s rally by playing a recording of prisoners from January 6 singing the national anthem. Addressing the crowd, Trump pledged to grant pardons to the Trump-supporting individuals he referred to as "hostages" on the first day of his presidency.

“You see the spirit from the hostages. And that’s what they are — hostages,” Trump said in the opening words of his rally.

The upcoming Biden-Trump rematch is poised to be a contentious race, with both candidates likely to highlight the events of the Capitol attack. Biden has consistently referenced January 6 in his speeches, emphasizing the significance of the November outcome for the preservation of democracy, according to Politico, adding that the attack continues to pose a political threat to Republicans and Trump's campaign in the current election cycle.

Earlier on Friday, during an interview with Fox News, former US Vice President Mike Pence announced that he would not be supporting Donald Trump's bid for a second term in the White House. "It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year," Pence said in the interview. 

US media characterized the announcement as a "bombshell" and "startling," but rife tensions between the two have been ongoing since their time in office.