Trump evades question on potential abuse of power in second term
Former President Trump hints at his intentions for a potential reelection, promising to be a strong advocate for his supporters in 2024 Stay tuned for his insights on Biden's possible withdrawal and his critique of DeSantis' stance on Social Security
Former President Donald Trump has frequently assured his followers that he will act as their avenger if re-elected in 2024. However, during a Fox News town hall hosted by Sean Hannity on Tuesday, Trump avoided answering a question about whether he would misuse his power or seek revenge against his political adversaries.
Hannity asked if, if reelected president, Trump had any intention of abusing power, breaking the law, or using the government to go after people. Trump avoided giving a direct answer and instead highlighted his four indictments while dismissing the 91 criminal charges against him as "made up charges."
Later, Hannity pressed Trump once more, questioning, "Can you assure America tonight that you will never misuse your power for revenge against anyone?"
"Except for the first day. I plan to close the border and focus on drilling," Trump responded.
"He said, 'You know, I'm going to be a dictator.' We all love this guy. And I was like, 'No, definitely not, except for day one. We're closing the border and drilling, drilling, drilling.' After that, I'm not a dictator," Trump stated.
The ex-president's remarks followed former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney's comments, who warned that the nation would be "sleepwalking into a dictatorship" if Trump wins next year. This came after Cheney lost her seat to a Trump-backed primary challenger last year for participating in the House commission that investigated the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
Hannity noted that Trump's response seemed to focus on policy rather than addressing whether he would seek political retaliation against his enemies. Additionally, Trump referenced his four indictments and dismissed the 91 criminal charges against him as "fabricated" and "without merit."
"Al Capone was one of the greatest criminals of all time," he said. "He was indicted once. I got indicted four times."
Despite Trump's response on Tuesday night, his campaign and allies have been planning to use executive power in unprecedented ways if he is reelected.
Trump's strategy involves increasing White House influence over the Justice Department, which he has stated he would use to retaliate against his adversaries, including former supporters.
"I will appoint a dedicated special prosecutor to investigate the most corrupt president in the history of the United States, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden family," announced the former president in June following his indictment in Florida. "I will completely dismantle the Deep State."
In a recent Univision interview, Trump went even further, stating, "If I were to become president and I see someone doing better than me and beating me badly, I would tell them to go down and indict them."
He has outlined his intentions to overhaul the current Justice system in videos and speeches, aiming to dismiss "radical Marxist prosecutors that are destroying America." This is part of a larger initiative to dismantle legal barriers and traditional safeguards against political meddling, and to grant the White House greater influence in appointing ideological allies across the federal government.
Trump's plan involves reclassifying tens of thousands of civil service workers who are usually retained during changes in administrations as at-will employees, making it easier to terminate their employment. In a March video, Trump announced his intention to sign an executive order to enable the removal of "rogue bureaucrats" and pledged to use this power assertively.
If Trump wins the election next year and follows through on the plan being developed by his campaign and allies, legal experts predict that it would result in prolonged legal disputes and political conflicts with Congress regarding the extent of presidential power.
On the other hand, Biden has stated that the danger of another Trump presidency is a key factor in his decision to run for a second term.
At a Democratic donor event on Tuesday, Biden openly admitted that he may not have sought reelection if Trump had not been running for the White House. He emphasized the importance of preventing a Trump victory, which has become a significant factor in his decision to run for a likely rematch in 2024.
Here are other highlights from Trumps town hall:
Trump predicts Biden bails on 2024 election
Trump also expressed doubts about Biden's ability to remain the Democratic nominee for the November 2024 election, citing concerns about Biden's age and physical condition. "I personally don't think he makes it. I think he's in bad shape physically," Trump said.
One name he floated: California Gov. Gavin Newsom, with whom he said he had a good relationship in the past.
"Hes slick, but hes got no facts," Trump said of Newsom.
The ex-president indicated that he had seen the Newsom and DeSantis debate on Hannity's show last week. "Even though he didn't have all the facts, I thought he performed well," Trump commented on Newsom. "He would definitely be a good choice."
He also noted the political reality of bypassing Vice President Kamala Harris, saying that Democrats would anger Black voters by doing so.
Trump hits DeSantis on Social Security
Trump criticized Ron DeSantis, a potential rival in the 2024 GOP race, accusing the Florida governor of wanting to tamper with Social Security. This statement was in reference to DeSantis' previous votes as a congressman in support of nonbinding budget resolutions that aimed to increase the retirement age to 70.
When Hannity asked about the national debt, Trump commented that the United States can address looming entitlement shortfalls by expanding domestic oil and gas production, and that hurting senior citizens with their Social Security is not the solution. Years ago, Trump supported some of the same policies he now criticizes his rivals for backing.
CNNs Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.
