Trump Says ‘A Lot Of’ Americans Want A Dictator

Donald Trump made a shocking statement Monday when he claimed that many Americans would prefer to have a dictator in the nation’s highest office.

The president was signing a series of executive orders that would intensify his fear-mongering crime crackdown in Washington and other cities, including Chicago, when he griped about the negative reaction to his decision to deploy the National Guard to the nation’s capital.

“They say, ‘We don’t need him. Freedom. Freedom. He’s a dictator. He’s a dictator,’” Trump said, referring to critics of the D.C. deployment and his ongoing threat to send the troops into Chicago.

“A lot of people are saying, ‘Maybe we’d like a dictator,’” Trump said dubiously before suggesting he’s not one of those folks.

“I don’t like a dictator. I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with great common sense, and I’m a smart person. And when I see what’s happening to our cities, and then you send in troops. Instead of being praised, they’re saying, ‘You’re trying to take over the Republic.’ These people are sick.”

You can hear the complete statement below.

Although Trump insisted he’s not a dictator, 52% of Americans disagreed in a poll by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute in April, responding that the president “is a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy.”

Many of Trump’s political opponents, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), found the president’s offhand suggestion very chilling.