Depends who you are. Many liberals thought that implied he would do away with elections and make himself permanent ruler, but others assumed it was because it would be his second and final term, so it would be their last chance to vote for him specifically.

Don't get me wrong, Trump is a lying piece of shit, but he often doesn't think about his phrasing before running his mouth. It's certainly an ominous phrase, but, he may not have actually meant what many of us heard.

[–] paper_moon@lemmy.world 26 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

...given all the things he's done so far, do we really think its fair giving him the benefit of the doubt on such a statement? I think we all know damn well what he meant. As far as I know he specifically referred to himself both as a king and a dictator, multiple times in 2025.

[–] lagoon8622@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 days ago

Your sanewashing skills are fucking incredible, you should be the WH press secretary

[–] thejml@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 days ago

I would go with the second meaning if it wasnt for all his Trump 2028 merch and rhetoric. There is plenty of context to that statement that cannot be ignored... democrat or republican, you should be talking to your representatives on a regular basis.

[–] Thorry@feddit.org 7 points 3 days ago

"He's now president for life, president for life. And he's great. And look, he was able to do that. I think it's great. Maybe we'll have to give that a shot someday." - Trump 2018 in regards to the dictator of China

[–] Dragomus@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago

He made statements he'd do away with voting completely when he was elected because the voting system was supposedly rifled with fraud... Another accusation that was an admission.

There should be no doubt he was and still is fully set on torpedoing and thwarting any attempt at honest elections for the forseeable future.

And now even more since the whole regime knows there will come a reckoning if the other side is able to win.

[–] expr@piefed.social 5 points 3 days ago

Fuck off with that sanewashing bullshit. He meant it precisely one way, and no other.

[–] joyjoy@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 days ago

I'm sure for many people, the only reason they voted was to vote for (or against) Trump.