Washington: Drug dealers kill people, destroy families and might deserve the death penalty or life in prison for their crimes, President Trump says.

Trump, speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania for congressional candidate Rick Saccone, said he got the idea from the leaders of China and Singapore. The US criminal justice system, Trump said, is too soft on drugs.

"You kill 5000 people with drugs because you're smuggling them in and you are making a lot of money and people are dying. And they don't even put you in jail," Trump said. "That's why we have a problem, folks. I don't think we should play games."

President Donald Trump, acknowledges the crowd during a campaign rally with Republican Rick Saccone on Saturday.

Trump said he recently asked the president of Singapore if that country has a drug problem.