Former President Donald Trump cast himself as a savior of democracy and repeated his claim that he wants to be a “dictator for a day” during a raucous speech at a Republican soirée in New York City.
Last week, Trump made waves the night before the fourth Republican debate, reflecting that he did not plan to be a dictator, “except on the first day” if elected in 2024.
During his keynote address at the 111th annual Young Republican Club of New York Gala, which was filled with jokes and Trump’s greatest rhetorical hits during the election campaign, the 45th president revisited the controversy.
“[Peter] “Baker said today in the New York Times that I want to be a dictator,” Trump complained, referencing a report from the media outlet.
“I did not say that. I said I want to be a dictator for a day. Do you know why he wanted to be a dictator? Because I want a wall and I want to drill, drill, drill,” Trump insisted.
The 45th president clarified his comments about wanting to be a dictator for a day. AFP via Getty Images
Trump also claimed that the Democrat’s “new deception” is to call him a threat to democracy.
The crowd, filled with MAGA stars like Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), applauded him.
Last Tuesday, Trump originally whipped up a frenzy over his effort to be a dictator during a town hall with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, saying he only wanted it on the first day.
“I want to close the border and I want to drill, drill, drill,” Trump said at the time. “Other than that, I’m not a dictator.”
His comment sparked fierce controversy and came amid frantic warnings from disenfranchised Democrats and Republicans that he aspires to be a tyrant.
His critics have pointed to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots, Trump’s denial of the 2020 election, and adulation of international dictators as evidence.
Donald Trump called Democratic characterizations that he is a threat to democracy a “hoax.” Aristide Economopoulos
“Thank God, just one day,” President Biden joked at a fundraising event in Los Angeles last week.
“Sean Hannity really thought he was helping Trump,” Trump ally Steve Bannon later complained. “Even asking that question shows that you are an idiot. And we don’t have time for idiots, brother. “This is a war and we don’t have time for happy patriots and that nonsense.”
Elsewhere in Trump’s wide-ranging speech on Saturday, the 77-year-old complained about the criticism he receives for calling Chinese leader Xi Jinping “brilliant.”
“He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist. They want me to say that he has average intelligence,” Trump said. “I can’t say bad things.”
Trump then suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “sharp” and praised French President Emmanuel Macron in the same way.
The former president delivered hits of his campaign rhetoric during the gala. AP
In that same speech, Trump also described himself as a defender of democracy, downplaying criticism that he is a threat as “disinformation” and a “hoax.”
Trump, who faces 91 criminal charges, maintained that Biden is the “real threat.”
“Radical left Democrats, your fake news allies, have revealed their latest deception that Donald J. and the Republican Party are a threat to democracy,” Trump lamented.
“This is their new line. Here we go again: ‘Russia, Russia, Russia’, ‘Mueller, Mueller, Mueller’, ‘Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine’. One deception after another,” he added.
“But no, I’m not a threat. I will save democracy. The threat is corrupt Joe Biden.”
Trump is the Republican Party’s 2024 favorite to be the party’s 2024 standard bearer.
Donald Trump is the undisputed favorite in the 2024 Republican primaries. Getty Images
He took aim at his rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, suggesting that California Gov. Gavin Newsom bested him in a debate and taking other jabs.
“It looks like a doll with a doll’s head. “I don’t like him because I supported him and got him elected,” Trump said.
The DeSantis campaign generally claims that Trump’s attacks on the governor come from his fear that the Floridian could defeat him, something the Trump campaign rejects.
The Post has reached out to the DeSantis campaign for comment.
Trump has a massive 47.6 percentage point lead nationally in the 2024 Republican primary according to the latest aggregate from RealClearPolitics.
The first Republican contest is scheduled for January 15, 2024 in the Iowa caucuses.
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