Donald Trump: If the Islamic Republic kills protesters like before, we will strike where it hurts very, very badly

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stated on Friday, January 19, that the Islamic Republic is in 'big trouble.' He noted, 'It seems to me that people are taking over cities that just a few weeks ago no one thought was possible.' He added, 'We are watching the situation closely. I have firmly stated that if they start killing people like before, we will take action. We will strike very hard at the place where it hurts. And this does not mean military presence on the ground, but it means striking very, very hard at the place where it hurts.' Trump continued, 'So we don't want this to happen. There have been situations like this where President Obama completely backed down.' He remarked, 'But this is something absolutely incredible happening in Iran. Watching it is amazing. They (the Islamic Republic) have done a bad job. They have treated their people very poorly, and now (the people) are retaliating. So let's see what happens. We are keeping an eye on it. We are watching it closely.' The President of the United States also said, 'I just hope, you know, I just hope God keeps them safe. I just hope the protesters in Iran are safe, because right now [Iran] is a very dangerous place. And again, I tell the leaders [of the Islamic Republic] of Iran, you better not shoot, because we will start shooting too.' The American network Fox News reported on Friday, citing Iran Human Rights, that at least 51 people, including 9 children, have been killed in anti-government protests in Iran. Trump spoke of the people's eagerness to overthrow the Islamic Republic; international solidarity with the people of Iran coinciding with threats from Islamic Republic officials; the U.S. State Department's warning: the world is watching. Trump: We need to see who emerges from the protests in Iran. Trump: The eagerness of the people to overthrow the Islamic regime is incredible; they love their country which has gone back 150 years. Senator Lindsey Graham's message to the people of Iran: Trump is not Obama and will support you. Trump's latest message to the people of Iran: You must believe strongly in freedom. There is nothing like freedom. You are brave people. An American legislator to Khamenei and his aides: Leave Iran while you have the chance. Support from the U.S. Vice President for Iranian protesters. Exclusive; The White House on the crackdown on protests in Iran: The President's warning to the Islamic Republic is serious. Protests continue in Iran; from smashing the statue of 'Qassem Soleimani' to pulling down the large flag of the Islamic Republic in Mashhad.