In a Fox News town hall moderated by Sean Hannity on Tuesday night, former President Donald Trump sidestepped a crucial question regarding his potential abuse of power or retribution against political adversaries if reelected in 2024.
Hannity asked directly, “Do you in any way have any plans whatsoever if reelected president to abuse power, to break the law, to use the government to go after people?”
Rather than offering a direct response, Trump deflected the question. He referred to the four indictments against him and dismissed the 91 criminal charges he currently faces as “fabricated charges.”
Hannity, persisting with the question, asked Trump if he could promise that he would not abuse power for retribution under any circumstances. Trump’s response seemed to focus on policy objectives rather than addressing the issue of political retribution. He stated, “Except for day one. I want to close the border and I want to drill, drill, drill,” hinting at policy actions he would take.
The discussion comes in the wake of remarks by former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, who warned that the nation could be heading towards a dictatorship if Trump wins the election next year. Hannity noted that Trump’s response seemed to center on policy matters rather than addressing concerns about political retribution against adversaries.
Despite Trump’s response on Tuesday night, his campaign and allies have previously expressed intentions to wield executive power in unconventional ways if he secures re-election.
Trump’s plan includes asserting greater White House control over the Justice Department, which he has suggested he would use to settle scores with his critics, including former allies.
He previously stated, “I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family.” He also expressed a desire to “totally obliterate the Deep State.”
During a recent interview, Trump indicated that as president, he would not hesitate to use indictments against political rivals, stating, “If I happen to be president and I see somebody who’s doing well and beating me very badly, I say go down and indict them.”
In various videos and speeches, Trump has outlined his plans to overhaul the current justice system by removing “radical Marxist prosecutors that are destroying America.”
This approach forms part of a broader strategy that would dismantle legal restrictions and established safeguards against political interference, granting the White House greater authority to install ideological allies throughout the federal government.
Furthermore, Trump’s plans would reclassify tens of thousands of civil service workers as at-will employees, making it easier to terminate them. He previously stated that he would sign an executive order to facilitate this process, vowing to “wield that power very aggressively.”
Legal experts anticipate that if Trump is reelected and follows through with these plans, it would lead to extensive legal battles and political conflicts with Congress regarding the boundaries of presidential authority.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has emphasized that the threat posed by another Trump presidency is a central motivation for seeking re-election. Biden recently acknowledged that he might not be running for a second term if Trump were not in the race, underscoring the importance of preventing another Trump victory.
