Former President Donald Trump told attendees at a conservative Christian event Friday night that he “wouldn’t have to vote anymore” if he’s elected to office in November. He implored Christians to save America by voting “just this once” so he could win a presidential election with a landslide “too big to rig.”
Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, made his remarks at the end of a speech at The Believers Summit, an event hosted by the conservative advocacy group Turning Point Action, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“Christians get out and vote. Just this once,” he urged. “You don’t have to do this anymore. Four more years. You know what? It’ll be fine. It’ll be fine. “You don’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians.”
“I love you Christians and I’m a Christian. I love you, you’ve got to get out and vote. You don’t have to vote.” Trump said.
On social media, there were some calls for alarm in response to Trump’s comments, with concerns that they hinted at authoritarianism and could be interpreted as a sign that if he wins the election, “he will not leave office.”
“Democracy is at risk, it’s not a drill,” posted Alison Gill, who co-hosts the podcast “Jack,” along with a photo showing Trump’s message to Christians.
At the end of his hour-long speech, Trump said the Democrats had rigged the 2020 presidential election — which Trump falsely said he won over President Biden.
The audience gave him a standing ovation, chanting: “Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight” the way Trump did when a bullet grazed his ear during an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, two weeks ago. What followed was, likewise, fist-bumping.
Trump shared that he removed the last strip from his ear before speaking at the event.
“I just took it off. I took it off for this group. I don’t know why I did it for this group, but that’s it,” he said.