(NewsNation) — Stephen A. Smith says the media’s “fearmongering” around Donald Trump’s “bloodbath” remark isn’t effective because it’s an old strategy that hasn’t changed the former president’s momentum.

“First of all, I thought he (Trump) was talking about the auto industry,” Smith said during an interview Tuesday night on NewsNation’s “Cuomo.” I thought that they (the media) used it as an opportunity to expose and exploit the things they wanted to about Trump. It’s not working. It’s not effective.”

Trump made the remarks Saturday at a rally in Dayton, Ohio, for Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, who is facing a close primary against state Sen. Matt Dolan and Secretary of State Frank LaRose. 

The former president argued the U.S. will have serious issues if President Joe Biden is reelected when discussing his proposal for steep tariffs on vehicle imports. Trump called for a 100 percent tariff on cars made outside the country and argued the industry would only be protected with him in office.

“If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole — that’s going to be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country,” Trump said.

In another controversial comment at the rally, Trump said of illegal immigrants: “I don’t know if you call them people. In some cases, they’re not people, in my opinion. But I’m not allowed to say that because the radical left says that’s a terrible thing to say.”

Vance, who also attended the rally, sought to clarify and reinforce Trump’s remarks the next day. 

NewsNation’s Damita Menezes contributed to this report.