Former President Donald Trump is trying to tamp concerns he will be a dictator if he wins a second term.
During a town hall event on Wednesday night on Fox News, Trump addressed his response to a question about whether he would ever abuse his power.
“I said, ‘I’m going to be a dictator for one day. We’re going to do two things: the border — we’re going to make it so tight you can’t get in unless you come in legally. And the other is energy, we’re going to drill, baby drill. After that, I’m not going to be a dictator,” the former president said.
However, he went on:
“The press picks it up. SO, said, ‘I’m going to be a dictator for one day.’ They cut it. They go, I’m going to be a dictator. But they cut the rest of the sentence.”
He added, “No, no, I’m not going to be a dictator.”
Watch the video below:
"I am not going to be a dictator" — Trump pic.twitter.com/2laB5FLANF
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 11, 2024
During a town hall event with the former President, Fox News’ Sean Hannity said, “The media has been focused on this and attacking you. Under no circumstances — you are promising America tonight — you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody.”
“Except for day one,” Trump responded with a straight face. But he soon dropped the facade and took a joking tone as he pointed at Hannity and said, “Look, he’s going crazy.”
The Fox News host asked, “Meaning?”
“I want to close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill,” Trump explained.
When Hannity insisted those are not abuses of power, the former president said, “He says, ‘You’re not going to be a dictator, are you?’ I said, ‘No, no, no. Other than day one. We’re closing the border and were drilling, drilling, drilling, after that I’m not a dictator.”