On Election Day, former President Donald Trump addressed questions about potential post-election violence if he loses, stating he doesn’t feel obligated to instruct his supporters to avoid violence. The comments came after Trump cast his vote in Palm Beach, where he briefly took questions from reporters.
When asked directly whether he would tell his supporters not to engage in violence or dispute election results, Trump responded, “I don’t have to tell them that.” He insisted that his supporters “are not violent people” and stated, “I certainly don’t want any violence, but I certainly don’t have to tell them. These are great people. They believe in no violence.”
The context surrounding Trump’s comments is significant. His supporters had stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an effort to halt the certification of the 2020 election results after Trump’s loss, an incident marked by violence and turmoil. Trump’s reluctance to discourage potential violence has raised concerns, especially considering recent history.
When further pressed by CNN on whether he would declare victory regardless of the results, Trump declined to answer.
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