Former President Donald J. Trump has stepped up suggestions in recent days that he might prosecute his political enemies if elected in November.
In interviews aired on Thursday and earlier this week, Mr. Trump’s comments showed him trying to cast his legal troubles as a referendum on the American justice system and the rule of law. His allies in the Republican Party have also joined his calls for revenge prosecutions and other retaliatory measures against Democrats in response to his 34-count felony conviction by a jury in a New York court.
Sympathetic interviewers offered Mr. Trump several opportunities in recent days to clarify or revise his previous statements. Mr Trump instead defended his position, saying at some points: “I don’t want to look naive” and that “revenge can sometimes be justified.”
Dr. Phil McGraw, the television host and self-described donor to Mr. Trump’s campaign, brought up the former president’s previous statements in an interview on Thursday, giving him the opportunity to say how Dr. As McGraw put it, “Enough is enough.” Too much is too much. This is a race to the bottom and it stops here. It stops now.”
Mr. Trump initially responded, “I’m okay with that,” but then added, “Sometimes I’m sure I wouldn’t do that in certain moments, you know, when you’re going through what I went through.”
As Dr. McGraw then said that revenge and retaliation were unhealthy for the country and that Mr. Trump had no time to “get revenge,” the former president replied: “Revenge takes time.” That’s what I will say. And sometimes revenge can be justified, Phil, I have to be honest – sometimes it can.”
In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity that aired Wednesday night, Mr. Trump was also offered several opportunities to promise that he would not “retaliate” against his political opponents.
Mr Trump was asked to respond to critics who fear he would face “retaliation” if he wins in November and returns to the White House. “So No. 1, they’re wrong,” he said. “This has to stop, otherwise we won’t have a country.”
Mr. Trump instead said that “based on what they’ve done” — referring to Democrats — “I have every right to take action against them.”
He added: “And it’s easy because it’s Joe Biden, and you see all the crime, all the money flowing into the family and him.”
Mr. Hannity then urged the former president to condemn “this practice of using weapons.”
Mr Trump replied: “You have to do it. But it’s terrible – look, I know you want me to say something so nice,” but he added: “I don’t want to seem naive.”
The former president was also asked about prosecuting his opponents in an interview with ABC15 News in Arizona that aired Thursday, and he indicated he was thinking about it.
“I thought it would be a terrible thing to do to Hillary Clinton,” Trump said, repeating a recent false claim that he never called for “locking up” Mrs. Clinton. But he added: “The world is different now. So if you ask me the question: Would we do it? I’ll talk to you in about three years.”
On Tuesday, he also hinted that his opponents could be prosecuted.
“You know, it’s a very terrible thing. It sets a terrible precedent for our country. Does that mean the next president will do this to them? That’s really the question,” Mr. Trump told Newsmax host Greg Kelly when asked if the conviction could help him politically.
He added: “You know, it’s a terrible, terrible path that they’re leading us down and it’s very possible that this is going to have to happen to them.”
Michael Gold and Maggie Astor contributed reporting.
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2024-06-07 02:32:47
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