Some Democrats say his comments, directed at a Christian audience, signaled his plans to be a dictator. His campaign says he was talking about ‘uniting’ the country, and experts point to his ‘deliberately ambiguous’ speaking style.

Some Democrats say his comments, directed at a Christian audience, signaled his plans to be a dictator. His campaign says he was talking about ‘uniting’ the country, and experts point to his ‘deliberately ambiguous’ speaking style.

Democratic lawmakers and Vice President Harris’s campaign joined a chorus of online critics in calling out remarks Donald Trump aimed at a Christian audience on Friday, arguing that the former president and current Republican presidential nominee had implied he would end elections in the United States if he won a second term.

At the conclusion of his speech at the Believers Summit in West Palm Beach, Fla., Trump said, “Christians, get out and vote, just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore. 
 You got to get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote.”

Democrats and others interpreted the comments as signaling how a second Trump presidency would be run, a reminder that he previously said he would not be a dictator upon returning to office “except for Day One.”

  • EatATaco@lemm.eeEnglish
    1119·
    4 months ago

    Can you really not come up with any other explanation? I agree that this is fucking incredibly troubling, and I will assume the worst about this guy based on his past handling of the presidency, but it’s shocking to me that people think he outright said he would end democracy and there is no ambiguity here.

    Like easily I could strain and say “well, he’s saying that he is going to make things so good that everyone is going to vote for him, so the Christians no longer will need to.” Or “I don’t care in 4 years because I won’t be able to run.”

    • OutlierBlue@lemmy.caEnglish
      162·
      4 months ago

      Oh fuck off with that nonsense. He already tried to end democracy once with his insurrection. There’s no doubt that he’s going to try again.

      • EatATaco@lemm.eeEnglish
        83·
        4 months ago

        The question is whether it’s an ambiguous statement. You are saying its safe to assume, because of past behavior, what he means. And I agree, what he’s saying here is scary based on this. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s ambiguous and not explicit.

    • mPony@lemmy.world
      91·
      4 months ago

      it’s shocking to me that people think he outright said he would end democracy and there is no ambiguity here

      yeah and some folks said “RUSSIA? If you’re LISTENING?..” was ambiguous, too.

    • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
      6·
      4 months ago

      That last one in particular. Remember that Trump doesn’t care if Republicans win
 he cares if he wins. When it’s not him running for president he really won’t give a shit (and might hope they fail because then it gives credence to his “Only I can win” line).