At an event organized by the conservative group Turning Point Action in West Palm Beach, Florida, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made a controversial statement to Christian voters on Friday. He suggested that if they vote for him in the upcoming November election, "in four years, you don't have to vote again. We'll have it fixed so good, you're not gonna have to vote."
The former president's comments were unclear, particularly in an election campaign where his Democratic opponents have accused him of being a threat to democracy, following his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. That effort led to the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Addressing the audience, Trump said, "Christians, get out and vote, just this time. You won't have to do it anymore. Four more years, you know what, it will be fixed, it will be fine, you won't have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians." He continued, "I love you Christians. I'm a Christian. I love you, get out, you gotta get out and vote. In four years, you don't have to vote again, we'll have it fixed so good you're not going to have to vote."
When asked to clarify Trump's remarks, campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung did not directly address them, instead stating that Trump "was talking about uniting this country" and blamed "the divisive political environment" for the recent attempted assassination of Trump. Investigators have yet to determine the motive behind the incident involving a 20-year-old gunman.
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In a December interview with Fox News, Trump mentioned that if he won the November 5 election, he would be a dictator, but only on "day one," to close the southern border with Mexico and expand oil drilling. U.S. presidents are limited to two terms under the Constitution, whether consecutive or not.
Trump has previously joked about serving more than two terms, referencing Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only U.S. president to serve more than two terms. Speaking at a National Rifle Association gathering in May, Trump quipped about possibly being considered a "three-term" president.
Trump's recent remarks highlight the importance of energizing both parties' base voters ahead of what is expected to be a closely contested election. Trump's support among evangelical voters has been strong in past elections. The race has tightened following President Joe Biden's decision not to seek re-election, making Vice President Kamala Harris the presumptive Democratic nominee. Recent polls indicate that Trump's significant lead over Biden has narrowed since Harris took the lead.
Jason Singer, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, did not directly address Trump's comments about Christians not needing to vote again. He described Trump's speech as "bizarre" and "backward-looking."
