Washington Post: Dictator-for-a-day? Scholars say Trump can do damage without being one.
Berry Craig
The former president’s comments underscore just how vulnerable U.S. democracy is to a leader bent on consolidating power, according to experts in autocracy
By SARAH ELLISON
Fox News host Sean Hannity didn’t mention the word “dictator” last week when he asked former president Donald Trump during a Fox News Town Hall if he would “abuse power as retribution against anybody” in a potential second term. In his response, Trump attempted to paraphrase Hannity’s question and answer it himself.
“This guy, he says, ‘You’re not going to be a dictator, are you?’” Trump said, referring to Hannity. “I said, ‘No, no, no — other than Day 1.’ We’re closing the border. And we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.”