Former US President and Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump raised eyebrows with his suggestion that military forces might be necessary to address what he termed “the enemy from within” on Election Day. In a discussion focused on potential election-related chaos, Trump expressed confidence that his supporters would not contribute to unrest.
During a press interaction, a reporter pressed Trump on the possibility of disturbances, particularly from external agitators.“Are you expecting chaos on election day?” the reporter asked.
“No, I don’t think so. Not from the side that votes for Trump,” Trump replied, dismissing fears of violence stemming from his supporters.
The conversation then shifted to potential threats from outside actors. Citing the presence of thousands of Chinese nationals and individuals on terrorist watchlists in the US, Trump was questioned whether these elements could spark violence, especially if Trump emerged victorious. President Joe Biden’s remarks suggesting that the upcoming election might not be peaceful were also referenced.
Trump, accusing Biden of ignorance, said, “Well, he does not have any idea what is happening as he spends most of his days sleeping. I think the bigger problem is the enemy from within. Not even people who come and destroy our country, by the way, totally destroying our country. The towns, villages, they’re being inundated. But I don’t know if there will be problems in terms of election day.”
Trump insisted that any unrest should be addressed with decisive action, stating, “I think the bigger problem is the people from within. We have some very bad people. We’ve some sick people, radical left lunatics. And I think it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, the National Guard or, if really necessary, by the military because they can’t let that happen.”
Trump’s remarks come as tensions rise ahead of the upcoming election, with both major parties gearing up for what many anticipate could be a contentious process.
President Joe Biden had earlier expressed doubts about the likelihood of peaceful elections in November. He pointed to what he called “inflammatory remarks” made by Trump, the Republican candidate, who continues to deny the legitimacy of his loss in the 2020 presidential race. The 81-year-old president suggested that while he believes the election will be “free and fair,” he cannot guarantee it will be “peaceful.”