Certain Issues

Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, has addressed concerns about his potential return to power, asserting that he would not become a dictator, except “on day one.” This statement comes in response to warnings from both Democrats and some Republicans who fear that America could slide into autocracy if Trump were to win the 2024 election.

During a televised town hall event in Iowa, Trump was asked twice to deny that he would abuse his power to seek revenge on his political opponents if re-elected. In response, Trump stated, “No. No. Other than day one.” He clarified that on this specific day, he would exercise his presidential powers to close the southern border with Mexico and expand oil drilling.

Throughout his campaign speeches and TV appearances this year, Trump has frequently promised “retribution” against his political adversaries if he regains power. His targets include President Joe Biden, prosecutors who have charged him with various crimes, the Department of Justice, and the federal bureaucracy.

Trump, who is currently the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, made these remarks at a Fox News event in Davenport, Iowa. This state holds the first nominating contest for the Republican Party on January 15.

It is worth noting that Trump has refused to concede his loss to Biden in the 2020 election and has propagated false claims of election fraud. These baseless allegations played a significant role in fueling the deadly insurrection by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump’s election lies continue to be a central theme of his ongoing White House campaign.

While Trump’s rivals for the Republican nomination, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, are set to participate in a televised debate at the University of Alabama, Trump has chosen to skip this event, as he has done with previous debates.

President Biden has repeatedly warned of the threat Trump poses to democracy, cautioning that another term for Trump could usher in a dangerous era of American autocracy. Republican former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney, who co-chaired the congressional probe into the Capitol attack, also expressed concerns about a potential Trump dictatorship if he were to be re-elected.

It is important to note that the headline of this article has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.