“They should be shot.” Trump attacks “leakers of sensitive information”

(CNN) - US President Donald Trump said during an election rally on Wednesday that “people who leak sensitive national security information should be shot.”

Trump added to his supporters in Bullhead City, Arizona: “In my opinion, the leakers should be shot. To me, they are the scum of the earth; the leakers are the scum of the earth.”

Trump has long been highly critical of unauthorized disclosures of information to the media, and his administration has launched an aggressive campaign to curb leaks, including issuing subpoenas to force journalists to reveal their sources, a move denounced by advocates of freedom of expression guaranteed by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Recent efforts have included requiring officials to hand over their phones upon entering the White House, and issuing subpoenas to journalists from The New York Times in an attempt to identify sources who provided them with information for reports about security shortcomings in the plane - which was presented as a gift from Qatar - that was scheduled to be used as a presidential plane (Air Force One).

Trump's recent inflammatory statements on the issue of disclosing information came in the context of his claim that details were leaked regarding US strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, including the movements of US military aircraft.

“They should go to prison and be shot,” Trump said of those accused of leaking.