Former President Donald Trump expressed concerns about potential political violence from his supporters if he is not elected in November, stating that it would depend on the outcome of the presidential race. Trump’s remarks were made during an interview with Time magazine, where he also discussed topics such as abortion, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. Trump’s refusal to dismiss future violence is fueled by his baseless election conspiracies and promise to pardon individuals involved in the January 6th attack.
During the interview, Trump downplayed the likelihood of political violence similar to the January 6th attack and continued to push false 2020 election conspiracies. He has a history of not accepting election results and refusing to concede defeat, which has prompted concerns from some political figures. Trump also reiterated his promise to pardon individuals involved in the January 6th attack, calling them “hostages,” despite their convictions for violent crimes. Trump’s comments indicate a possible willingness to pardon all individuals sentenced for crimes related to January 6th.
Trump’s remarks on abortion during the interview highlighted the limits of his stance on leaving the issue to state legislatures and voters, as well as the potential political challenges it poses. He refused to commit to vetoing a federal abortion ban and did not object to states punishing women who undergo abortions in states where it is banned. Trump’s comments on abortion have raised concerns among critics, including President Joe Biden’s campaign, which warns of potential repercussions if Trump wins the election.
In the aftermath of the October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas, Trump criticized Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for perceived security lapses. This drew backlash from Trump’s Republican primary rivals and supporters, who believed the criticism was ill-timed. Trump also expressed doubts about supporting Israel’s military response but refrained from further public attacks on Netanyahu. He hinted at a tough road ahead for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians without providing a clear path forward.
During the interview, Trump was asked about the detainment of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia. Trump tepidly stated that Gershkovich should be released but admitted that he had not spoken out earlier due to other pressing matters. This lukewarm response is reminiscent of Trump’s previous hesitancy to condemn foreign leaders for their treatment of perceived political enemies, such as Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny and journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Despite some criticism, Trump has not taken a strong stance against such actions by foreign governments.
