Former President Donald Trump He said in a new interview with Time mJournal he doesn’t think there will be political violence around the 2024 election because he believes he will win – but it “always depends on the fairness of the election”.
The comments came as Trump said he would “consider” pardoning anyone accused or convicted of rioting at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, after the then-president called on his followers against what he called repeated and unjustified pardons. “fake” election.
Trump also answered questions probing his campaign stance on abortion policy — and pressing him on any potential federal action, including his position on whether abortion pills should be available. And Trump stepped up his past statements about Russia doing “whatever it wants” to NATO countries that don’t pay their “fair share” and the scale of the military crackdown he plans to order against illegal immigration.
In an initial interview, when Trump was asked about the possibility of more political violence in 2024 after the events of the 2020 election, he said no. “I think we’re going to win big. And I don’t think there will be any violence,” Trump said.
However, Trump did not have an unambiguous approach to the question of what will happen if he does not win the ongoing conversation.
“Well, I think we’re going to win,” Trump replied. “We’re so far ahead. I don’t think they’re going to be able to do the things they did last time, which was terrible. Absolutely terrible. They did so many, so many different things that it was completely messed up. You know what’s going on and everybody knows it. If we don’t win, it’s always depends on the fairness of the election.”
Trump also said he would avoid hiring people for a second administration who think President Joe Biden has won the 2020 election: “I wouldn’t feel good about that,” he said.
As Congress prepares to certify the results of the 2020 election on January 6, 2021, Trump complained about people accused and convicted of violent crimes that they face a “two-tiered system,” but when pressed, “I would do it.” yes,” when asked if he was considering pardoning anyone convicted of their actions on January 6th.
“States should be relaxed or worried, not me”
Trump’s rare lengthy interview included a discussion of his position on leaving abortion policy up to the states. Asked if he was comfortable with states deciding to punish women who have abortions after state-mandated bans, Trump said: “I don’t have to be comfortable or concerned. States will make this decision. States should be comfortable or worried, not me.
Asked later whether state governments should monitor women’s pregnancies to ensure they don’t have abortions after a certain time limit, Trump said: “I think they can do that. Again, you’d have to talk to the individual states.”
Trump also dodged the question of whether women should have access to abortion pills. As the interviewer noted, Trump’s Republican allies have called for “implementation of the Comstock Act, which bans the mail order of abortion drugs,” which Trump said he would announce later, but declined to reveal his position.
“I will make an announcement on this within the next 14 days,” Trump said. In a follow-up interview on April 27, Time noted that two weeks later, Trump still hasn’t made a statement.
“I’m going to do it in the next week or two,” Trump said. “But I don’t think it will be a shock, frankly. But I will do it in the next week or two.”
Trump recently said that it should be up to individual states to determine any penalties for doctors who perform abortions outside of state laws. He called the question of what he would do about potential federal abortion legislation “because it’s not going to happen. You’re never going to have 60 votes.”
“I see myself using the National Guard and taking it a step further if necessary.”
When asked about immigration, Trump repeated a consistent campaign promise to use the U.S. military to remove undocumented immigrants from the country.
Trump said he was willing to use other parts of the U.S. military besides the National Guard to solve problems at home and on the border, saying, “I can see myself using the National Guard, and if necessary, when our interviewer pointed to the law preventing the deployment of military against civilians,” Trump said. argued that undocumented immigrants are not citizens, saying, “These are people who are not in our country legally. This is aggression against our country.”
Trump has previously promised to move thousands of overseas US troops to the southern border to combat border security, as well as end “every open border policy of the Biden administration.”
Trump also brought up the idea of migrant detention camps, calling it “possible” but something he hoped “we don’t have to do too much of.”
Using local law enforcement has been central to Trump’s immigration promises over the past year, though there are few policy specifics surrounding the idea.
Asked to clarify, Trump offered “police immunity from prosecution” and left the door open to possible incentives from the federal government for state and local police departments.
“If you won’t pay, then you’re on your own”
As for international affairs, Trump has recently changed his mind He comments that Russia “can do what they want”. to NATO countries that do not “pay” the military expenses they deem appropriate.
Trump told Time: “Yes, when I said that, I meant it big, because I want them to pay. I want them to pay. This was not a point of negotiation. I said, look, if you’re not going to pay, then you’re being selfish. And I mean it.”
Trump also supported his comments that he would not “give a penny” to Ukraine unless other European countries start supporting Ukraine in “equalizing” amounts.
“I said I will not give unless Europe starts to equalize,” Trump said. “They have to come. Europe has to pay. We are willing to pay more than the people of Europe. It is very unfair to us. I said if Europe is not going to pay, they are affected more than us. If Europe is not going to pay, why should we pay?”
Trump also acknowledged that a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine looks “very, very difficult” and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “rightfully” criticized for allowing Hamas to attack Israel on October 7.