Former President Donald Trump said in a new interview with Time magazine that he doesn’t think there will be political violence in the 2024 election because he believes he will win, but that he is “always concerned about election integrity.” It depends on the situation,” he said.
The comments came after President Trump repeatedly rallied his supporters against unfounded calls for all those charged or convicted of insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. It was accompanied by a statement saying it would “consider” pardoning the following individuals. “Rigged” elections.
Trump also answered questions probing his campaign’s position that abortion policy is left up to each state, and that the federal government, including his own position on whether abortion drugs should be available, He deflected questions about possible action. And President Trump has criticized Russia for “doing whatever it wants” with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries that don’t pay its “fair share” and for military crackdowns it plans to order against illegal immigrants. Regarding the scope, I have reinforced my previous statements.
In his first interview, Trump was asked about the possibility of more political violence in 2024 in the wake of the events following the 2020 presidential election, and he answered “no.” “I think we’re going to win big, and I don’t think there’s going to be any violence,” Trump said.
However, in a subsequent conversation, President Trump was vague when asked what would happen if he did not win.
“Well, I think we’re going to win,” Trump replied. “We’re so far ahead. I don’t think we can do something as bad as they did last time. It’s just terrible. There were so many different things they did that were completely in violation.” Was supposed to happen, we know it, and everyone knows it. It would be hard to list it, but I don’t think it would be possible. If we don’t win, it will depend on the fairness of the election. ”
Trump also expressed reluctance to hire someone into his second administration who he believes President Joe Biden won the 2020 election, saying “That doesn’t feel good.”
As Congress prepares to certify the 2020 election results on January 6, 2021, President Trump says of those charged and convicted of violent acts, they face a “two-tier structure.” He complained that he was doing so, but said if pursued, “I would do that.” Please consider that,” he said when asked if he would consider pardoning everyone charged in the January 6th act.
“It’s up to the state to decide what’s comfortable or uncomfortable, not me.”
Trump’s unusually lengthy interview included a discussion of his position on leaving abortion policy up to the states. Asked directly if he was satisfied with states making decisions to punish women who access abortions after bans in certain states, President Trump responded: Each state will make that decision. It’s up to the state to decide what’s comfortable or uncomfortable, not me. ”
Additionally, when asked if states should monitor women’s pregnancies to prevent them from obtaining abortions after a limited time ban, Trump responded, “I think they might do that. Again, each state… We’ll need to talk to you,” he said. ”
President Trump also glossed over the issue of whether women should have access to abortion pills. The interviewer pointed out that President Trump’s Republican allies are calling for “enforcement of the Comstock Act, which bans the mailing of medications used for abortion,” and said that President Trump would issue a statement at a later date. The outline of the position was not disclosed.
“I will issue a statement on this matter in the next 14 days,” Trump said. In a follow-up interview on April 27, Time noted that two weeks had passed and President Trump had still not issued a statement.
“We’re going to do that over the next week or two,” Trump said. “But, frankly, I don’t think it’s shocking. But we’re going to do it for the next week or two.”
President Trump recently said that penalties for doctors who perform abortions outside of state law should also be left up to each state. When asked what he would do about passing a federal abortion bill, he hypothesized: “That’s not going to happen. You’ll never get 60 votes.”
“I think we’re going to use the National Guard, but we’re going to have to go the extra mile if we have to.”
Asked about immigration, Trump reiterated his campaign promise to use the U.S. military to remove illegal immigrants from the country.
And President Trump said he was prepared to use other branches of the U.S. military besides the National Guard to deal with problems not just at the border but also inland. “I can imagine using the National Guard, and if necessary, I would.” I guess so.” When the interviewer mentioned a law that prohibits the sending of military forces against civilians, President Trump insisted that illegal immigrants are not civilians, saying, “These are people who are not in our country legally. It’s an invasion.”
President Trump previously vowed to move thousands of U.S. troops overseas to the southern border to crack down on border security and vowed to end “all open border policies of the Biden administration.”
President Trump also brought up the idea of immigrant detention centers, saying it’s a “possibility” but hopes “we shouldn’t do too much.”
A core of President Trump’s immigration promises over the past year has been the use of local law enforcement, but few policy details have been provided around the idea.
When asked for clarification, President Trump proposed “police immunity from prosecution,” leaving the door open to possible federal incentives for state and local police.
“If you don’t pay, it’s your fault.”
Regarding international affairs, President Trump revisited his recent comments that Russia “can do whatever it wants” to NATO countries that “don’t pay” military spending as it sees fit.
Trump told Time magazine, “Oh, when I said that, I meant it in a big way because I want them to pay. I want them to pay for it. was said as a negotiating point. I said, “Look, if you don’t pay, you decide for yourself.” And I mean it. ”
Trump also stood by his statement that he would not “give a dime” to Ukraine unless other European countries began “equalizing” aid to the country.
President Trump said, “I said I won’t budge unless Europe begins to achieve equality.” “They have to come. Europe has to pay. We have to pay much more than European countries. It’s very unfair to us. And I said, if Europe is not going to pay, even though it is more severely affected than us, why should we pay if Europe is not going to pay? ”
President Trump also said that a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians appeared “very tough” and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “rightly” criticized for the fact that Hamas was able to attack Israel on October 7. He admitted that he did.
