Former President Donald Trump got 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 was still forced to state flat out that he was not ‘going to be a dictator.’
Trump made the comment when co-host Bret Baier asked him about his recent that there would be ‘bedlam’ in the country if his criminal prosecutions continue.
That brought a long explanation from Trump about his comments to fellow Fox host Sean Hannity. Trump had told Hannity he woudl be a ‘dictator for one day,’ in comments that drew backlash.
‘No, I am not going to be a dictator. I’m going to manage like we did,’ Trump said.
He blamed the media for not emphasizing parts of his initial comment, when he said he would only be a dictator on energy policy and the order.
‘This is just a political ploy – Trump is a dictator, he wants to be a dictator,’ said Trump.
‘No, I am not going to be a dictator,’ former President Donald Trump said at a Fox News town hall
Trump got asked a question by a supporter in the audience who said friends say there would be chaos in his second term.
‘We have chaos today. Look at today with Hunter Biden going to Congress and sitting down’ in Congress, Trump said.
Trump also foreswore plans for ‘retribution,’ despite repeatedly vowing to go after his rivals, and using the word in a fundraising appeal hours earlier.
‘A lot of people would say that that’s not so bad,’ he said at first when asked about it. He brought up grudges including the Russia probe and what he called the FBI Twitter scandal over censorship.
‘I’m not going to have time for retribution. We’re going to make this country so successful again, I’m not going to have time for retribution,’ Trump said.
That came five hours after his campaign sent out a fundraising appeal stating ‘I AM YOUR RETRIBUTION!’
He took the stage after blasting rival Nikki Haley in online posts, and mocking former Gov. Chris Christie, who announced in New Hampshire he was getting out of the race.
Trump has been sitting on an enduring Iowa polling lead, topping 50 per cent in multiple polls and leading his rivals by more than 30 points.
Trump said he won’t have time for ‘retribution’ although his campaign is still fundraising off his vow that ‘I am your retribution’
Trump said he won’t be a ‘dictator,’ and made a plea for allowing certain abortion exceptions
Members of the crowd yelled out their support for Trump during breaks. He mingled with many of the 500 audience members after the event concluded
The event was moderated Fox hosts Bret Baier and Martha McCallum, while DeSantis and Haley debated at Drake University on CNN.
Many of the questioners identified as Trump supporters, and his backers yelled out statements of support during breaks.
‘We love you Trump,’ yelled one supporter while the Doobie Brothers played during a break. ‘We’re pulling for you, Trump,’ yelled another.
A supporter named Kim from Grimes asked what Trump would do about millions of migrants who already entered the country illegally.
‘We are going to have the largest deportation effort in the history of our country. We are bringing everybody back,’ Trump promised.
A Trump-leaning Iowan named Denise asked, ‘In the spirit of making America great again can you do something about the sanctuary cities?’
That started Trump blasting illegal immigration, saying ‘many of those people come from jails and prisons,’ as well as ‘insane asylums.’ He said some were ‘terrorists.’
The format allowed him to blast the Russia probe ‘Russia, Russia, Russia,’ while going after Fulton County DA Fani Willis over new allegations she hired a romantic partner to assist her prosecution of Trump co-defendants.
Baer asked him about a House Democratic report that his businesses made $8 million from foreign governments during his presidency.
‘If I have a hotel and somebody comes in from China, that’s a small amount of money,’ said Trump.
‘I own hotels. I don’t get free money,’ he said.
Trump also made nuanced comments about abortion to a pro-life voter between him and DeSantis.
‘I love where you’re coming from, but we still have to win elections,’ Trump told her.
‘We’re living in a time when there has to be a little bit of a concession one way or the other.’
Trump aligned himself with Ronald Reagan in backing certain ‘exceptions’ when abortions could be allowed.
‘Now I happen to be for the exception, like life of the mother, rape, incest. I just have to be there, I feel,’ Trump said.