US President Donald Trump floated the idea to have drug dealers face the death penalty, while addressing a raucous rally for a Republican congressional candidate in a tight race.
Mr Trump's appearance on Saturday was aimed at helping Republican Rick Saccone in a district Trump won overwhelmingly in 2016 as part of a narrow win in Pennsylvania.
But while he heartily endorsed Mr Saccone as a "really good person," Mr Trump spent a lot of time talking about his own fortunes and other issues in a "Make America Great Again" rally in an airport hangar at the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Mr Trump said the country should discuss having drug dealers face the death penalty because they are responsible for thousands of deaths, citing laws in China and Singapore.
“If someone goes and shoots somebody, kills somebody they get the death penalty,” said Mr Trump, claiming drug dealers killed between 2000 to 5000 each during their lifetime.
"I don't know if that's popular. I don't know if that's unpopular."
The comments come a day after reported the president’s Domestic Policy Council and the Department of Justice were studying potential changes.
"The White House has said one approach it might take is to make trafficking large quantities of fentanyl - a powerful synthetic opioid - a capital crime because even small amounts of the drug can be fatal. White House officials also are studying tougher non-capital penalties for large-scale dealers," the Post reported.
At the rally, Mr Trump said it was crucial for Republicans to muster forces to turn back a strong Democratic drive to win one or both houses of the US Congress in November midterm elections.
"We need Republicans. We need the vote," Mr Trump said, saying Democrats would take away, among other things, "your Second Amendment rights" to bear firearms.
Continuing his battle against the mainstream news media, Mr Trump insulted NBC News' Meet the Press host Chuck Todd and Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
Under pressure over a scandal involving a porn star named Stormy Daniels, Mr Trump singled out his wife, Melania, for praise.
"You think her life is so easy folks? Not so easy," he said.
A day after getting news that the US economy produced 313,000 jobs last month, Mr Trump said his policies are paying off. He said 25 per cent tariffs on steel imports will boost Pennsylvania's economy.
Critics say the tariffs could trigger retaliatory trade measures and damage the US economy. There are also doubts about how far Mr Trump's policies will go toward resuscitating the battered American steel industry.
"Your steel is coming back. It's all coming back," Mr Trump told several thousand cheering supporters.
Mr Trump also said he hoped to run for re-election against Oprah Winfrey, although the entertainer has ruled out a run.
"I'd love to beat Oprah. I know her weakness," said Mr Trump.
Mr Saccone is trying to win an election on Tuesday in Pennsylvania's 18th District to replace Republican Tim Murphy, who resigned amid a sex scandal.
A Saccone loss would be the first loss of a Republican seat in the House of Representatives since Mr Trump took office, although Republicans would still control of the chamber.
