U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that many of his fellow citizens “want a dictator,” while at the same time denying accusations that he himself leans toward authoritarianism.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking at a White House press conference focused on security issues and exchanges of accusations with his opponents, Trump responded to claims of his dictatorial tendencies by saying:
“Many people say: we might want a dictator. I don’t like dictators. I’m not dictatorial. I’m a man with a lot of common sense, and I’m smart.”
He added: “I send in the military, and instead of congratulating me, they accuse me of assaulting the republic,” referring to his decision to deploy the National Guard on Washington’s streets to help enforce the law.
In front of reporters, Trump signed an executive order punishing anyone who burns the American flag — despite a 1989 Supreme Court ruling that such an act falls under freedom of expression, a constitutional right.
He declared: “If you burn a flag, you’ll face a one-year prison sentence, without the possibility of early release.”
In a related statement, Trump said he intends to change the name of the Department of Defense back to the “Department of War,” the title it held between 1789 and 1949.
In a shorter interview with the press, he added: “The name ‘Defense’ is too defensive, and we also want to be offensive,” noting that he would not need congressional approval to implement the change.
Sharp Attack
Trump also launched fierce attacks on his political rivals, particularly those sometimes mentioned as potential Democratic presidential candidates for the 2028 election.
He described Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker as “filthy,” saying he “needs to exercise more,” in reference to his weight.
Trump also criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, both of whom recently mocked him on social media.
Of the Democratic Party, he said: “All of its potential candidates are not doing their jobs properly.”
And he did not spare his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, calling him a “fool.”
