Former President Donald Trump has sparked controversy after making remarks that appeared to suggest he would end elections in the United States if re-elected. Speaking to a Christian audience at the Believers Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, Trump said, “Christians, get out and vote, just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore … You got to get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote.”
These comments have been interpreted by many Democrats as a threat to American democracy. California Representative Adam Schiff, a Senate candidate in the upcoming fall election, shared a clip of Trump’s speech on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “This year democracy is on the ballot, and if we are to save it, we must vote against authoritarianism. Here Trump helpfully reminds us that the alternative is never having the chance to vote again.”
Washington Representative Pramila Jayapal, chair of the progressive caucus, expressed her alarm on the platform, saying, “This. Is. Terrifying. We cannot let this be the case.” New York Representative Dan Goldman added, “The only way ‘you won’t have to vote anymore’ is if Donald Trump becomes a dictator.”
The Trump campaign, however, claimed that his comments were intended to emphasize uniting the country. A spokesperson told The Washington Post, “Trump was talking about uniting this country and bringing prosperity to every American, as opposed to the divisive political environment that has sowed so much division and even resulted in an assassination attempt.”
Just before his controversial remarks on voting, Trump reiterated his unfounded claims that the 2020 election was rigged, stating that Democrats don’t want to approve voter ID laws “because they want to cheat.” He urged Republicans to win by a large margin to prevent election rigging.
In response to Trump’s comments, the campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris issued a press release on Saturday, describing Trump’s statement as a promise to “end democracy.” Campaign spokesperson James Singer said, “After the last election Trump lost, he sent a mob to overturn the results. This campaign, he has promised violence if he loses, the end of our elections if he wins, and the termination of the Constitution to empower him to be a dictator to enact his dangerous Project 2025 agenda on America.”
Project 2025 is a 900-page document developed by a conservative think tank, outlining policy proposals for the next Republican president. While Trump and his campaign have tried to distance themselves from the document, many of his allies and former administration members contributed to its development.
Trump made similar remarks to a Christian audience last month at a Faith and Freedom Coalition event in Washington, saying, “You’ve got to get out and vote, just this time. I don’t care, in four years, you don’t have to vote, ok? In four years, don’t vote. I don’t care, by that time … we’ll have it all straightened out, so it’ll be much different.”
The former president’s comments have intensified concerns about the future of American democracy as the 2024 presidential election approaches.