- “I will have no time for retaliation,” Trump told Fox hosts at the town hall
- “I will not be a dictator,” he said, following his earlier comment “one day.”
- Trump answered questions alone while DeSantis and Haley debated nearby
Former President Donald Trump was allowed to command a stage all to himself at a prime-time Fox News town hall in Iowa, where he was cheered by Iowa supporters but still had to forcefully declare that he “will not be a dictator.”
Trump made the comment when co-host Bret Baier asked him about his recent incident saying there would be “chaos” in the country if his prosecutions continued.
That earned Trump a lengthy explanation for his comments to Fox host Sean Hannity. Trump had told Hannity he would be “dictator for a day” in comments that drew backlash.
“No, I won't be a dictator.” “I'll do it like we do,” Trump said.
He accused the media of not highlighting parts of his original remark when he said he was just a dictator in energy policy and regulation.
“This is just a political ploy — Trump is a dictator, he wants to be a dictator,” Trump said.
“No, I will not be a dictator,” former President Donald Trump said in a Fox News town hall
Trump was asked a question by a supporter in the audience in which he said friends said there would be chaos in his second term.
“We have chaos today.” “Look today at Hunter Biden going to Congress and establishing himself in Congress,” Trump said.
Trump also refrained from any plans for “retaliation,” despite repeatedly vowing to take action against his rivals and using the word in a fundraising appeal hours earlier.
“A lot of people would say it’s not that bad,” he initially said when asked about it. He expressed resentment over, among other things, the Russia investigation and what he called the FBI-Twitter censorship scandal.
“I will have no time for retaliation.” “We will make this country so successful again that I will have no time for retaliation,” Trump said.
He took the stage after online posts denouncing his rival Nikki Haley and mocking former Gov. Chris Christie, who announced in New Hampshire that he was dropping out of the race.
Trump has a consistent lead in the polls in Iowa, polling above 50 percent in several polls and leading his rivals by more than 30 points.
The event was moderated by Fox anchors Bret Baier and Martha McCallum, while DeSantis and Haley debated at Drake University on CNN.
Many of those asking questions identified themselves as Trump supporters, and his supporters loudly shouted statements of support during breaks.
“We love you, Trump,” one supporter shouted as the Doobie Brothers played during a break. “We’re pulling for you, Trump,” another shouted.
A supporter named Kim from Grimes asked what Trump would do with millions of migrants who had already entered the country illegally.
“We will undertake the largest deportation effort in the history of our country.” “We will bring everyone back,” promised Trump.
Denise, a Trump supporter from Iowa, asked, “In the spirit of making America great again, can you do something about the sanctuary cities?”
That led Trump to slam illegal immigration, saying, “A lot of these people are coming from jails and prisons” and “insane asylums.” He said some were “terrorists.”
The format allowed him to denounce the “Russia, Russia, Russia” Russia investigation while prosecuting Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over new allegations that she hired a romantic partner to help her prosecute Trump- to support co-defendants.
Baer asked him about a report from House Democrats that his companies earned $8 million from foreign governments during his presidency.
“If I have a hotel and someone comes from China, that’s a small amount of money,” Trump said.