Does Donald Trump really want to be a dictator?

ModerateImprovement@sh.itjust.works to politics @lemmy.world – 96 points –
Does Donald Trump really want to be a dictator?
theconversation.com
51

Well, let's see.

  • He has been surrounding himself with and replacing people in positions of power with people based on loyalty alone in all branches of the government including the military,

  • He has tried to overthrow the results of an election through violent means and said he will do it again

  • He gets rid of anyone who dares to contradict him

  • He divides the population against itself

  • He called out for political violence against his opponents

  • He floated the idea of getting rid of the two mandates cap for himself

  • He expressed the intent of jailing his opponents on multiple occasions

  • He said that if he wins next election voting won't be necessary anymore

  • He openly admitted he wants to be a dictator on multiple occasions....

Beats me. It's anyone's guess.

Yes FFS. Why are you still asking this question at this point? Couldn't figure it out after he successfully got Scotus to rule in favor of criminal immunity for presidents?

I'm concerned for anyone who had doubts after Jan 6

Why are you still asking this question at this point?

Because the question in the headline is the propaganda meant to make people doubt the answer

I'm going to be a dictator on day one!

But... Does he really want to be a dictator? Hmm, we'll never know... Guess we'll just have to find out in January 🤷

TBF he said hed be a dictator only until things are fixed. And im SUUUURE he will give up his power with ease

He said he'd fix things, so that in another 4 years, his "beautiful Christians" won't have to vote again.

Let’s see - voting system gerrymandered to the point that minority rule is a factor. A political party exerts every possible pressure to make voting more difficult, onerous, or to expel registered voters from the registry, especially those in contested areas or favoring the opposition. Sending false electors to invalidate an election. Calling elected leaders on the phone to falsify vote counts. Literally attempting a coup to overturn an election.

Then the multiple times trump has directly or indirectly stated he wants to be a dictator and cement his/his family’s position in essentially a hereditary dictatorship of the country.

But does he really mean it?

The issue isn't whether Donald the Duck wants to be a dictator—it’s clear that he does. It's also evident that his supporters are aware of this. The real question is why so many Americans feel so let down by their political system that they're willing to tear it down completely.

Because they keep voting against their own interests? Because they’re gullible fools manipulated by outrage headlines? Because they aren’t able to understand the consequences of their votes?

I try to understand, I try to find common ground, but all I see is someone in a horror movie standing in an open grave wondering if they’re trapped but won’t stop digging.

If you really believe that such a large percentage of Americans vote to end democracy because they are idiots, then you don't believe in democracy either.

And that is what will do more than anything to end it, to make neither side believe that it is the least bad of the systems.

Yep, both sides the same. Voting for universal healthcare and achieving it, is the same as voting against and having hundreds of thousands without. Voting to respect everyone’s reproductive rights is the same as trying to control other people’s choices. Voting to improve education is the same as starving education. And most of all not understanding people’s poor choices is exactly the same as treason and election fraud

You haven't understood me. I'm not talking about specific policies and which ones are better; I'm talking about the very foundations of democracy. In a democracy, those in power are chosen by the majority. If you believe that the majority (or close to it) is idiotic, how can you believe that democracy is better than other systems? In your own response, you make it clear that you think your ideas are better and should be implemented regardless of whether they convince people or whether the majority wants them. How can you call yourself a democrat in those circumstances?

That’s a really big stretch, even before complaining about the electoral college, nor did I focus on my ideas but listening to the candidates, watching actual behaviors, accepting reality

But it's much simpler than that. Do you believe that decisions made by the majority of citizens are legitimate and valid even if they go against your ideas, yes or no? If the answer is yes, it doesn't matter if your ideas are to raise or lower taxes; it doesn't matter if your ideas are for healthcare for all or none. You believe in democracy, and then we'll decide which team you're on and whether it's 'better' or 'worse' ethically.

I'm not from the USA, but from the outside, it seems like there are a lot of people who don't accept decisions unless they align with their ideas, no matter how much popular support they have. And those ideas can be great (and may align with mine), but imposing them is never a good idea.

You’re putting words in my mouth that I never said

Sorry if it gave you that impression, sometimes my English is limited

Probably because they are feeling like the electoral system is not working for them at the moment. Sometimes you need to tear it down completely in order to build it up properly. Trump seems to be the perfect candidate to fuck it all up, before someone else can take over the wheel.

Be careful with those types of ideas "we have to tear down the system and anyone who tears it down is worth it" no, if Trump ruins everything, whoever comes after him is not going to fix it, at least not in the way you imagine. Believe me, in Europe we have seen those kinds of ideas before

Yeah when my car is running poorly I usually put a brick on the gas pedal and drive it into a tree then light it on fire. It’s the perfect way to stop having a poorly running car.

That's not how that works. You don't end up with a blank slate, you end up with a fascist shithole with no guarantee of it ever being unfucked.

He said he'll be dictator for a day. Is that like "just the tip"?

Yeah it’s just to see how it feels, that’s all, nothing serious, this is fine, everything is fine, we’re all fine here

He wants to become president to stay out of prison, first and foremost.

He also wants what Putin has... so yes. He's wants to be a dick- traitor.

Everybody knows that. Good thing people and media keeps giving him publicity.

I expected the 5:1article ratio for the candidates to change, when Harris took over. But it's too late for the shit hole country.

Trump = clicks = money

There is no corporate journalism, there is corporate profit seeking. That's all that exists.

Short answer is yes. The longer answer is yyyyyyeeeeeeeeessssss!!!

In the posted picture above, his head is blocking the letter “K”

Fuck your clickbait - he's old, he's weird and he literally said "I want to be a dictator"

There's no "play" in that word, no interpretation to be had, no reading between the lines. Fuck this website.

It has been mentioned in the past that he has skeletons in his closet. What better way to deal with them than to be the one who can cast them off?

This is one of the few times where Betteridge's law of headlines does not apply.

My quick summary: Trump is saying that he doesn't care who gets elected after he's no longer president, not that there will be no more elections.

Edit: This is a summary of the article, not my own opinion.