In a recent interview with Time magazine, former President Donald Trump appeared to leave open the possibility of political violence from his supporters if he isn’t re-elected in November. When asked about the potential for unrest, Trump initially expressed confidence in a victory and downplayed the likelihood of violence. However, upon further questioning, he refrained from completely ruling out the possibility, citing concerns about the fairness of the election.
Throughout the interview, Trump continued to promote baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, suggesting that these falsehoods may have incited the violence seen on January 6, 2021, at the US Capitol. Despite being pressed on his refusal to accept election results in the past, Trump did not commit to conceding defeat in the upcoming election.
Moreover, Trump reiterated his pledge to pardon individuals involved in the January 6 events, describing them as “hostages” despite many of them having been convicted of violent crimes or pleaded guilty.
Overall, Trump’s remarks in the interview reflect his ongoing reluctance to accept electoral outcomes and his willingness to entertain the idea of political violence depending on the circumstances.