“Read the full interview,” a message tweeted by James Singer, a spokesman for President Joe Biden's campaign, linked to an extensive interview with former President Donald Trump. time It is unusual for a candidate's campaign to ask potential voters to read what their rival has said. In this case, many Democrats have pointed to fragments and inconsistencies in Trump's response, repeating some of the messages he frequently gives to his supporters at rallies. The Republican White House candidate says he will carry out mass deportations if elected. As for the possibility of violence after the November elections, he said there would be no violence if he wins. What if he loses? “it depends.”
Singer is not alone in pointing out Trump's message. Several Democratic spokespeople and officials highlighted excerpts or the full text of the interview. “Mr. Trump is doubling down on inciting political violence and ruling as a dictator if he wins in November. We should take him at his word,” California Sen. Alex Padilla said. Tweeted. “Given the opportunity to disavow political violence in an interview with Time magazine, Donald Trump said it depends on whether he loses or not.'' He’s going to do it again,” tweeted Marco Frieri, another spokesman for the Biden campaign.
One of the most poignant parts of the interview was when the reporter reminded Trump that in an earlier conversation he was not concerned about political violence related to the November election. Because he was going to win. “What will you do if you don't win?” he is asked. “Well, I think we can win. We're way ahead. I don't think they can do something as bad as they did last time. It's really bad. They've done so many, so many They did a lot of different things, but it was completely in violation of what was supposed to happen,” Trump responded, alluding to the 2020 presidential election theft hoax. “I think we'll win. And if we don't win, it depends. It always comes down to the fairness of the election. I don't think they can do what they did last time. I don't think they can get away with it. I don't think we can. If we do, we will win in record-setting fashion.”
President Trump also said he would “absolutely” consider pardoning those who participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. “If someone was evil and a bad person, I would look at it differently. But a lot of those people went in, a lot of those people were ushered out. “You can, but the police are guiding them. They're walking with the police,” he said, glossing over the violence that took place.
presidential privilege
In the interview, Trump defended presidential immunity, which he claimed before the Supreme Court, and asserted that Biden could also be prosecuted if it fails and he wins the presidency. “Look, the president should be given immunity, and that includes Mr. Biden. If they rule that they don't have immunity, then Biden, who probably has nothing to do with me, “He will be charged with 20 different acts, because he created such acts,” he says without any basis.
The former president digressed when asked if he agreed with his lawyer's argument that presidents should be granted immunity even if they order special forces to assassinate political opponents. “Well, I understood it in a different way. I thought it was a political enemy from another country. I think I understood it differently, but I'm not sure. And John Sauer also said, first through impeachment, then under impeachment. But even if the president doesn't have immunity, he has pretty strong immunity. Now, obviously he can do very bad things and very stupid things. “If you did, that would be a different situation. That could be one of those cases,” he counters.
mass deportation
In another excerpt, a journalist asks the former president about the mass deportation of immigrants he promised if he wins, to which Trump resorts to another of his favorite hoaxes: “I don't think this is sustainable for the country. What's happening to us? By the time Biden leaves office, we'll probably have 15 million people, maybe even 20 million people. 20 million people, that. Many come from prisons, prisons and psychiatric hospitals,” he said, without providing any data on the claims.
President Trump has also discussed using the National Guard and law enforcement to carry out these mass deportations. When asked by a reporter if he intended to circumvent the law prohibiting the deployment of troops against civilians, he replied: They are people who are not legally in our country. This is an invasion of our country. It is an invasion like no other country has ever seen. They come by the millions. I think there are 15 million people now. And I think I'll have 20 million by the end of this. ” At some rallies, President Trump even said that illegal immigrants “cannot be called human beings.”
Asked again if he would consider using the military to deport people, Trump said: “We could use the National Guard, and we would need to go a step further if necessary.”we have to do whatever we have to do to stop the problems we have […] We have to do what we have to do to stop crime and stop what's happening at our borders. ”
Trump also said he wants to “give police immunity from prosecution” when they act authoritarian. When asked by journalists for clarification, he elaborated: “We have to restore police to the authority and respect they deserve. Now, there are going to be some mistakes, and there are certain bad people, and that's terrible. […] Police are always being prosecuted. And we want them to be immune from prosecution if they are doing their job. ”
abortion
Democrats are also paying attention to President Trump's comments on abortion. The former president knows this is an issue that displeases Republican voters, and he refuses to speak publicly about it. He believes Florida's six-week abortion ban, which goes into effect this week, is “too strict,” but is clear on how he will vote in Florida's simultaneous abortion referendum in November. refuses to do so. Presidential election. President Trump also took a cautious stance on the use of the abortion drug mifepristone, which is being considered by the Supreme Court, saying in an interview, “I have an opinion on that, but I'm not going to explain it.'' I'm not going to say it yet. But I have pretty strong opinions about it. And we'll probably release it within the next week. ”
Asked if he was satisfied with the prospect of women being prosecuted for having abortions after the ban, he said: That's totally irrelevant, because the state would be making those decisions. And by the way, Texas would be different than Ohio. And Ohio State will be different than Michigan State. I understand what's going on. ”
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