Former President Donald Trump attempted to explain his controversial remark to a crowd of Christians last Friday, where he suggested they wouldn’t “have to do it anymore” if he wins in November, told The Hill.
In an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Monday, Trump faced criticism from Democrats who argue that his comments indicate an intention to remain in office beyond a second term. His opponents also cite other remarks in which he pledged to only be a dictator on “day one” of a new term and vowed to retaliate against his critics if he returns to the White House.
Ingraham gave Trump multiple opportunities to refute Democrats’ claims that he was telling supporters they wouldn’t need to vote again in the future, but Trump reiterated that Christians wouldn’t have to vote for him multiple times.
“This was a crowd that liked me a lot … and they’re treated very badly by this administration, OK?” Trump said of his speech Friday at the faith-focused event in Florida. “That statement is very simple,” he added. “I said, vote for me; you’re not going to have to do it ever again. It’s true.”
“This time vote, I’ll straighten out the country, you won’t have to vote anymore, I won’t need your vote”, told CTV News.
Ingraham pressed, “You meant you won’t have to vote for you because you’ll have four years in office.”
“I’m saying go out, you must vote,” Trump replied. “I said to the Christians in the room … you have to vote on Nov. 5. After that, you don’t have to worry about voting anymore — I don’t care — because we’re going to fix up, the country will be fixed and we won’t even need your vote anymore because frankly we will have such love.”
Trump emphasized that Christians and gun owners were key groups he was trying to appeal to, claiming they “don’t vote.” He also reiterated his controversial claim that Jewish Americans who vote for a Democrat “should have your head examined.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has criticized Trump in recent days as he continues to lay groundwork to avoid the next presidential debate, in which Trump would likely face her. President Joe Biden dropped out of his reelection campaign a week ago amid fallout over his disastrous performance in the June 27 debate with Trump. Ingraham questioned Trump’s reluctance to appear.
“I want to do a debate, but I also can say this: Everybody knows who I am,” Trump told the host. “And now people know who she is. She’s a radical left lunatic.”
“Then why not debate her?” Ingraham asked.
“Well, wait, because they already know everything,” Trump replied.
The former president’s remarks have sparked significant controversy, highlighting ongoing tensions in the political landscape as the 2024 election approaches.