Former U.S. President Donald Trump addressed concerns about potential autocratic rule, asserting that he would not act as a dictator except "on day one." The remarks come amidst bipartisan worries about the future of American democracy should Trump secure the 2024 election.

Pressed twice to deny any plans of abusing power for political revenge if re-elected, Trump responded, "No. No. Other than day one." On the mentioned day, he explained, his focus would be on utilizing presidential powers to close the southern border with Mexico and expand oil drilling.

As Trump actively pursues a second term, he has consistently promised "retribution" against political opponents, including President Joe Biden, prosecutors, the Department of Justice, and federal bureaucracy.

Following the event, Biden's campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, issued a statement emphasizing, "Donald Trump has been telling us exactly what he will do if he's re-elected, and tonight he said he will be a dictator on day one. Americans should believe him."

Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, has continuously contested the outcome of the 2020 election, spreading false claims that contributed to the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021. These claims remain a significant part of Trump's current White House campaign.

While Trump's Republican rivals, including Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, prepare for a televised debate, Trump has chosen to skip this event, as he has done with previous debates.

President Biden has consistently warned of Trump's perceived threat to democracy, underscoring the potential for an unprecedented and perilous era of American autocracy in a second Trump term. Former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney, a vocal Trump critic, echoed these concerns, labeling a Trump dictatorship as a "very real threat" in the event of his re-election.

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