Former President Donald Trump suggested that US democracy is unfair and in tatters following his defeat in the 2020 election and a flurry of allegations.
“This democracy — I don’t think we have much of a democracy right now,” Trump told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
When asked if democracy “is the most effective form of government,” Trump replied, “I do. I’m willing. But it has to be a fair democracy.”
Trump, 77, who faces two impeachments stemming from alleged efforts to undermine democracy during the 2020 election, rattled off a list of grievances about the state of US democracy.
The complaints range from attacks on the 91 pending criminal charges against him to some of the brutal media coverage he has faced.
“People understand what’s going on,” Trump said. “We need a free and fair media. And frankly, if they don’t have that, it’s very, very difficult to straighten out our country.”
Trump faces two indictments for trying to overturn the 2020 election results. Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Polls have shown that Trump is not alone in thinking that US democracy is withering.
About 1 in 10 American adults gave US democracy high marks in an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted over the summer.
Overall, polls have shown sinking public trust in Congress, the president, the Supreme Court and core institutions more broadly.
Critics like President Biden and Republican foes like former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wy.) has accused Trump of undermining US democracy by peddling false claims about the 2020 election being “stolen” or “rigged.”
Trump has also faced criticism for being too cozy with dictators he praises such as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
At one point, in an NBC interview, Trump praised Putin’s recent statement that he thought Trump could help resolve the Ukraine war.
“I like that he said that because that means what I said was right,” Trump quipped, arguing that he could end the war quickly.
Moderator Kristen Welker then talked about some of the atrocities in the bloody war waged by the Kremlin in half the world such as kidnappings, mass graves and more.
“Everything is terrible,” Trump replied. “I have a very good relationship with him but nobody is harder on Russia than me.”
Trump also said in the interview that he appreciated Russian President Vladimir Putin saying that he could help end the war in Ukraine.NBC
Trump further argued that “war will never happen” under his watch because he was able to “get along with Putin” and achieve peace through force.
His sit-down interview drew dismay from the campaign of his rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who highlighted Trump’s musings about cutting a deal with Democrats on abortion.
“We’ve seen the disastrous results of Donald Trump compromising with Democrats: over $7 trillion in new debt, an unfinished border wall, and the prison-breaking First Steps Act allowing violent criminals back on the streets,” wrote DeSantis campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo. on social media.
We’ve seen the disastrous results of Donald Trump’s compromise with Democrats: over $7 trillion in new debt, an unfinished border wall, and the prison-breaking First Steps Act that allowed violent criminals to return to the streets.
Republicans across the country know that Ron… https://t.co/1g6oURZ63m
— Andrew Romeo (@andrewromeo33) September 17, 2023
“Republicans across the country know that Ron DeSantis will not back down.”
Welker’s interview with Trump came on his first day anchoring “Meet the Press” as the marquee show’s new host.
His predecessor Chuck Todd hosted his last show on September 10. With Welker taking over NBC, every major Sunday morning political news show is now either hosted or co-hosted by a female anchor.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
