Donald Trump Refrains from Walking Back his Ominous Election Statement in Fox Interview
In a creepy Fox interview on Monday night, Donald Trump refused to clarify his ominous threat issued at a gathering of his supporters on Friday. His statement, “You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians,” left many puzzled and the host, Laura Ingraham, begging for an explanation. Rather than directly answering the question, Trump diverted into a long-winded narrative, including a bizarre attack on Jewish individuals who don’t support him, saying they “should have their head examined.”
Evasion and Diversion
When pushed to clarify his statement, he explained, “Christians are not a known as a big voting group. They don’t vote, and I’m explaining that to ’em. You never vote. This time, vote. I’ll straighten out the country; you won’t have to vote anymore. I won’t need your vote.” Even with Ingraham’s assistance, who suggested he meant his supporters won’t need to vote for him as he would have completed his term, Trump didn’t directly address the question. Instead, he continued his thread on non-voting groups, including the claim that gun owners don’t vote.
Despite being pushed again by Ingraham, Trump merely repeated his claim: “Don’t worry about the future. You have to vote on November 5. After that, you don’t have to worry about voting anymore, I don’t care, because the country will be fixed, and we won’t even need your vote anymore because frankly, we will have such love, if you don’t want to vote anymore, that’s OK.”
Confusion and Concern
Trump’s repeated statement has led to widespread confusion. The implication that voting might become pointless under his leadership has stirred fears of authoritarianism. His claim that Christians don’t vote is equally perplexing considering the active political participation of devout, fundamentalist Christians throughout US history. Moreover, Trump notably told his followers last week, “We don’t need the votes, I have so many votes,” an unusual message as the election draws near.
Defending the Indefensible
Despite his worrying assertions and apparent cognitive decline, Trump’s followers continue their defense. Prominent Republicans have yet to voice any substantial criticism of his ominous election threats or any other controversial statements he has made. As the election approaches, Trump’s rhetoric grows increasingly disturbing, warranting closer scrutiny and a more forceful response from fellow politicians and the public.
