Trump sidesteps question when asked if he plans to abuse power if reelected

Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly told his supporters he will serve as their “retribution” if he is elected again in 2024.

But pressed by Fox host Sean Hannity in a Fox News town hall Tuesday about whether he would abuse his power or seek retribution against his political enemies as president, Trump first sidestepped the question –and then seemed to minimize its seriousness, responding on a second round that he would only be a “dictator” on Day One of his presidency to address the border and domestic oil production.

“I’m going to be, you know he keeps, we love this guy, he says, ‘You’re not going to be a dictator, are you?’ I said, ‘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 said.

The former president’s comments came days after former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican who lost her seat to a Trump-backed primary challenger last year after she participated in the House commission that probed the January 6, 2021, insurrection, said the nation would be “sleepwalking into a dictatorship” if Trump wins next year.

“Do you in any way have any plans whatsoever if reelected president to abuse power, to break the law, to use the government to go after people?” Hannity initially asked.

Trump did not directly answer that question and instead pointed to his own four indictments and dismissed the 91 criminal charges he faces as “made up charges.”

Later, Hannity again pressed Trump, asking, “Under no circumstances, you are promising America tonight you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody?”

“Except for day one. I want to close the border and I want to drill, drill, drill,” Trump replied.

Hannity responded that Trump’s answer sounded policy-focused, rather than addressing whether he’d seek political retribution against enemies.

Trump also pointed to his own four indictments and dismissed the 91 criminal charges he faces as “made up charges” and “nonsense.”

“I often say Al Capone, he was one of the greatest of all time, if you like criminals,” he said. “And he got indicted once. I got indicted four times.”

Despite Trump’s answer Tuesday night, his campaign and allies have long plotted to wield executive power in unprecedented ways if he is elected again.

Trump’s plan includes asserting more White House control over the Justice Department, an institution the former president has said he would utilize to seek revenge on his critics, including former allies.

During a recent interview with Univision, Trump took it a step further.

“If I happen to be president and I see somebody who’s doing well and beating me very badly, I say go down and indict them,” he said.

In videos and speeches, he has laid out his plans to gut the current Justice system by firing “radical Marxist prosecutors that are destroying America.”

Trump took a swing at Ron DeSantis, one of his top 2024 GOP rivals, saying the Florida governor wants “to play around with your Social Security.”

He was referencing DeSantis’ votes as a congressman for nonbinding budget resolutions that would have raised the retirement age to 70.

Trump’s comments came after Hannity asked about the national debt. Trump — who years ago supported some of the same policies he now criticizes his rivals for backing — said the United States can eliminate looming entitlement shortfalls by expanding domestic oil and gas production.

“We have money laying the ground, far greater than anything we can do by hurting senior citizens with their Social Security,” Trump said.