Former President Donald Trump this week suggested that he would not dismiss the use of political violence if he does not win the November election.
The comments, which he made in a recent interview with Time magazine, have been interpreted by some as an indication that he may support actions that challenge the democratic process.
Asked about the possibility of political violence around the election, Mr. Trump said: “If we don’t win, you know, it depends. It always depends on the fairness of the election.”
He also said his previous remarks about not being a dictator “except for Day One” were not serious.
Mr. Trump told the magazine that the remark “was said in fun, in jest, sarcastically.” He later added, “I think a lot of people like it.”
He said the news media sensationalize his remarks.
Recent polls support Mr. Trump‘s belief in his enduring popularity against current President Biden. A Harvard CAPS/HarrisX poll conducted in April showed Mr. Trump leading by 7 percentage points over Mr. Biden in a hypothetical match-up that included independent candidates.
Amid these political debates, legal challenges regarding Mr. Trump‘s involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, where his supporters attempted to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election results, are ongoing.
The Supreme Court recently heard arguments on Mr. Trump‘s claim to presidential immunity concerning the events of that day, with a decision expected to be announced in the coming months.
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