Trump: “Maybe we like a dictator”

[Morphine Prince 109,984]

President Donald Trump defended his use of the National Guard for policing in Washington, DC − and his threats to deploy troops to other cities − against criticism that he's acting like an authoritarian, saying "I'm not a dictator."

Discussing the possibility of deploying the National Guard in Chicago next, Trump said during an Aug. 25 White House event: “They say: 'We don’t need him. Freedom, freedom, he’s a dictator.' "

"A lot of people are saying maybe we like a dictator," Trump added. "I don’t like a dictator. I’m not a dictator. I'm a man with great common sense and a smart person."

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/25/donald-trump-national-guard-dictator-comments/85816670007/

[Quentin 6,904]

*The United Nations laugh again*

[NUTELLA 30,517]

4 minutes ago, Morphine Prince said:

"I’m not a dictator. I'm a man with great common sense and a smart person."

"You're a liar & a fraud!"

[Lucas 31,559]

He's putting the concept out there (like other republicans have been talking about christian supremacy and removing women's right to vote), and kinda "jokes" about it so that it will be less shocking when it really happens

[Ladle Ghoulash 55,330]

1 minute ago, Lucas said:

He's putting the concept out there (like other republicans have been talking about christian supremacy and removing women's right to vote), and kinda "jokes" about it so that it will be less shocking when it really happens

I’ve yet to see a viable pathway for it happening tbh. I agree that he obviously wants to be a dictator, but I just don’t get why people assume that he’ll be able to do it. 

[Borisapillar 10,166]

1 minute ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

I’ve yet to see a viable pathway for it happening tbh. I agree that he obviously wants to be a dictator, but I just don’t get why people assume that he’ll be able to do it. 

I think they assume it because he gets away with literally everything.

[Ladle Ghoulash 55,330]

Just now, Borisapillar said:

I think they assume it because he gets away with literally everything.

I mean, aside from the overwhelming majority of executive power grabs he’s attempted since the beginning of this term, which have a 93% failure rate in court. I get why people think he’s immune to consequences, but that also doesn’t mean he’s necessarily capable of an actual authoritarian takeover. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s surely not a forgone conclusion 

[BabylonSaints 5,365]

That man is a dictator no matter what come out of his mouth.

[Flippy 14,645]

“I'm a man with great common sense and a smart person.”  please! This just made me cackle! The delusion is real

[Ladle Ghoulash 55,330]

Just now, Flippy said:

“I'm a man with great common sense and a smart person.”  please! This just made me cackle! The delusion is real

Reminds me of when someone asked him if he knew what QAnon was and he said something like, “They’re obviously people with great political instincts because they seem to be big fans of me” 

[Flippy 14,645]

Just now, Ladle Ghoulash said:

Reminds me of when someone asked him if he knew what QAnon was and he said something like, “They’re obviously people with great political instincts because they seem to be big fans of me” 

Like… This person really is in charge…  

[Bronco 27,894]

9 minutes ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

I’ve yet to see a viable pathway for it happening tbh. I agree that he obviously wants to be a dictator, but I just don’t get why people assume that he’ll be able to do it. 

Whats the viable pathway to prevent it? 

Because lets be realistic here, dictatorships aren't formed by legality. They are formed by corruption, force, violence and changing the rules.

And as a non-american, the American systems all seemed primed and ready after decades of planning for a dictatorship to be formed. 

The only real threat is Trump's age and health with so much resting on a personality cult currently.

[Ladle Ghoulash 55,330]

3 minutes ago, Bronco said:

Whats the viable pathway to prevent it? 

Because lets be realistic here, dictatorships aren't formed by legality. They are formed by corruption, force, violence and changing the rules.

And as a non-american, the American systems all seemed primed and ready after decades of planning for a dictatorship to be formed. 

The only real threat is Trump's age and health with so much resting on a personality cult currently.

He doesn’t have enough unilateral control over any branch of government to consolidate the necessary power to become a dictator, imo. Think about how limp dicked this whole “martial law” theatre has been (already retreated in LA, basically doing nothing in DC), what about this operation gives you any sense that this is a viable pathway to a takeover? 
 

I understand the argument about breaking laws and reshaping the system on a theoretical level and I think you’re right, but he doesn’t really have enough support to do things like: stage a military coup, rewrite the Constitution etc. So I don’t really see a clear path forward in terms of consolidating power in any direct way. Never said it wasn’t possible, but I’m not going to do him the favor of assuming he’s somehow going to be able to do it without a clear plan, which, at this point, there isn’t one.

[EART HL I NG 1,565]

Sounds like something a dictator would say 

 

or a wannabe anyway 

[PartySick 174,531]

1 minute ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

He doesn’t have enough unilateral control over any branch of government to consolidate the necessary power to become a dictator, imo. Think about how limp dicked this whole “martial law” theatre has been (already retreated in LA, basically doing nothing in DC), what about this operation gives you any sense that this is a viable pathway to a takeover? 

I think he could still be an acting dictator, if that makes sense.

He doesn't have the authority to do half the sh*t he does but he does it anyway, people let him, and he faces no consequences other than his political opponents tut-tutting him.

Effectually, that is a dictator of sorts.

2 minutes ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

Think about how limp dicked this whole “martial law” theatre has been

And yes, "theatre" is the key word here. Storming LA and DC with troops is just for show. He never had any goal other than making the news, exhausting us, and pissing off Democrats.

I would say the biggest sign of his dictatorship is ICE and all the illegal, unconstitutional abuse immigrants are currently facing with not an iota of consequences other than the occasional rowdy protester.