WASHINGTON: Donald Trump said on Saturday if he does not win November’s presidential election it will mean the likely end of American democracy.

The Republican presidential candidate, speaking to supporters in Ohio, made the claim after repeating his baseless assertion that his 2020 election defeat to Democratic President Joe Biden was the result of election fraud.

During an outdoor speech that was whipped by strong winds and punctuated by some profane language, Trump predicted that if he does not win the Nov 5 general election, American democracy will come to an end. “If we don’t win this election, I don’t think you’re going to have another election in this country,” he said.

Trump, who is under criminal indictment in Georgia for trying to overturn the result of the 2020 election there, this week won enough delegates to mathematically clinch the Republican nomination.

A general election rematch with Biden is likely to be extremely close. Earlier, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found the two candidates in a statistical tie with registered voters.

Salutes ‘patriots’ in jail

Trump opened his remarks in Dayton with a tribute to his supporters who are currently in jail for rioting at the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, as they sought to block certification of Biden’s 2020 election win.

Trump saluted and called them “patriots” and “hostages”.

Days after securing his position as the presumptive Republican nominee, the former president also warned of a “bloodbath” if he is not elected — though it was not clear what he was referring to, with the remark coming in the middle of comments about threats to the US auto industry.

He told a rally in Ohio that the Nov 5 presidential election would be the “most important date” in US history, painting his campaign for the White House as a turning point for the country.

“The date — remember this, November 5 — I believe it’s going to be the most important date in the history of our country,” the 77-year-old told rally-goers in Vandalia, Ohio, repeating well-worn criticisms that his rival, President Joe Biden, is the “worst” president.

Bloodbath

Criticising what he said were Chinese plans to build cars in Mexico and sell them to Americans, he stated: “They’re not going to be able to sell those cars if I get elected. Now if I don’t get elected it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole, that’s going to be the least of it, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country. That’ll be the least of it. But they’re not going to sell those cars.”

As Trump’s comment gained traction on social media, Biden’s campaign released a statement calling the Republican a “loser” at the ballot box in 2020 who then “doubles down on his threats of political violence.”

“He wants another January 6 but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge,” the campaign said, referring to the deadly attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters in 2021.

Among the issues, Trump is campaigning on is sweeping reform of what he calls Biden’s “horror show” immigration policies, despite successfully pressuring Republicans to block a bill in Congress that included the toughest border security measures in decades.

The rally came a day after Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, said he would not endorse his old boss for a second White House term.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2024