Former President Donald Trump danced around accusations that he would implement a dictatorship if he were reelected president in 2024 during a Fox News town hall Tuesday night.
Moderator Sean Hannity hosted the event in Davenport, Iowa, where he twice pressed the former president to address accusations, including from his longtime foe former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, that he would be a dictator if the country sent him back to the White House in 2024.
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“Under no circumstances, you are promising America tonight you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody,” Hannity prodded Trump.
“Except for day one,” Trump joked back. “I want to close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill.”
Hannity pushed back that Trump was dodging his questions. “Meaning?” Hannity asked.
“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 we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator,” Trump doubled down before the event went to commercial.
President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign quickly seized on Trump’s remarks in a Tuesday night statement that linked to a video of the former president’s “other than day one” comments.
“Donald Trump has been telling us exactly what he will do if he’s reelected and tonight he said he will be a dictator on day one. Americans should believe him,” said campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez.
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The event comes just 41 days before the crucial Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses, in which Trump is hoping for a strong showing to defeat his 2024 rivals.
