Former President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of political violence if he loses the November election, but he has not ruled it out.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think we’re going to win,” Trump told Time magazine in a cover story published Tuesday.
“I think we will win big and I don’t think there will be any violence,” he told Time, but was asked about his comments, “What will you do if you don’t win?” said a Time reporter.
President Trump continued: “If we don’t win, it depends. It always depends on the fairness of the election.”
He has previously warned of problems if things go awry, and last year, before facing any of the four criminal charges against him, said the “false charges” against him meant “potential death and destruction.” ” he wrote on social media. (He denies all wrongdoing.)
And in March, President Trump spoke about the auto industry at a campaign rally and said the country would face even more widespread “bloodshed” if he was not elected in November.
Speaking to Time for a new cover story, he alluded to his frequent unsubstantiated claims of widespread election fraud and said, “I don’t think they could do what they did last time.” I don’t think so. I don’t think so.” I don’t think they can get away with it, and if they do, we’ll win in record fashion. ”
The former president himself sought to overturn his 2020 election loss prior to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as Congress met to certify his defeat. He faces federal charges in connection with the act.
President Trump has since embraced and defended those indicted for his alleged actions on January 6th. The Justice Department announced this month that nearly 1,400 people have been charged in connection with the attack, including 129 people who were charged with “using a deadly or dangerous weapon.” or seriously injures a police officer. ”
According to the Justice Department, about 800 people have pleaded guilty to the charges, and an additional 156 have been convicted at trial.
President Trump told Time that he would “absolutely” consider pardoning everyone indicted.
“I think this is a dual justice system. I think it’s very sad,” he said of the rioters, whom he called “hostages.” In an interview with Time, he called them “patriots.”
“If someone was evil and a bad person, I would look at it differently,” he said.
Elsewhere in the interview, Trump said that even if he wins a second term, he intends to defy the Constitution and try to stay in power longer with a third term, as some have warned. He claimed that there was no such thing.
“I don’t really have a choice, but I will do it,” President Trump said of retiring after his second term.
He said he is “not in favor of challenging” the 22nd Amendment, which imposes term limits. “I’m going to be here for four years and do a great job.”
And while Trump continues to focus on retaliation against his supporters and claims of persecution on a variety of legal issues during the campaign, he fired a U.S. attorney who refused an order to prosecute someone as president. He told Time that it was a possibility. It depends on the situation. ”
Trump has indicated that as president he “doesn’t want” to prosecute district attorneys who have brought cases against him, including Alvin Bragg and Fannie Willis, but he still plans to order the Justice Department to do so. He did not directly answer Time’s questions. To do so.
He had previously said on the campaign trail that Mr. Bragg should be prosecuted, but denied such remarks to Time magazine.
“We’re going to look at as many things as they’re looking at. What they did was terrible. No, I don’t want to do it.” [prosecute them]” he told Time magazine, later saying, “Our retribution will be through the success of our country.”
President Trump has said he would appoint a special counsel to “go after” the Bidens, but he said he would “not rule out the Supreme Court’s decision” as justices consider whether to grant immunity from prosecution for actions taken during Trump’s tenure. It depends on what happens,” he told Time. White House.
“The president should be granted immunity, which includes:” [Joe] Biden. “If they rule that there is no immunity, Biden, who probably has nothing to do with me, he will be indicted,” Trump told Time, adding that without evidence Biden is legally He claimed to have committed a crime.
The Biden campaign attacked President Trump’s recent statements.
Biden campaign press secretary James Singer said in a statement Tuesday: “Not since the Civil War have we seen freedom and democracy at home under attack like they are today because of Donald Trump.” .
“Joe Biden believes that democracy remains a sacred cause, and his campaign is about the future America builds together, not one small, weak man’s fantasy of a dictatorship,” Singer said. said.
