On Saturday (3/16/2024), Donald Trump stated that if he does not win the presidential election in November, it could signify the potential end of American democracy.
According to Reuters, the Republican Party's presidential candidate spoke to his supporters in Ohio.
He made this claim after reiterating his unfounded assertion that his defeat in the 2020 election to Democratic Party President Joe Biden was a result of election fraud.
In his speech amidst strong winds outdoors, Trump forecasted that if he does not win the election on November 5th, American democracy would come to an end.
"If we don't win this election, I don't think we're ever going to have another election in this country," Trump said.
Trump, who is facing criminal charges in Georgia for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election there, won enough delegates this week to mathematically clinch the Republican Party nomination.
A rematch election battle with Biden is likely to be very close. Last week's Reuters/Ipsos polls showed both candidates statistically tied among registered voters.
Trump opened his speech in Dayton by paying tribute to his supporters currently imprisoned for participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, when they attempted to block the certification of Biden's victory in the 2020 election.
Trump paid tribute and referred to them as "patriots" and "hostages."
The former Republican Party president has increasingly used dystopian rhetoric in his campaign speeches about the state of the country.
Amidst his speech about imposing tariffs on imported cars and foreign competition in the U.S. automotive industry, Trump stated: "If I'm not elected, it will be a bloodbath for the entire nation."
When asked about what Trump meant, his campaign team pointed to a post on the X social media platform written by a New York Times journalist, stating that Trump's "bloodbath" comments emerged amidst discussions about the automotive industry and the U.S. economy.
When asked for a response to Trump's "bloodbath" comments, Biden's campaign spokesperson, James Singer, condemned Trump's "extremism," "his thirst for revenge," and "political violence threats."
Trump has narrowed the gap with Biden in polls among non-white voters, which is a core part of Biden's winning coalition when he defeated Trump in 2020.
In his appeal to minority voters, Trump cited the main theme of his campaign, namely the excessive influx of illegal immigrants across the U.S.-Mexico border since Biden took office.
"No one has been more harmed by Joe Biden's migrant invasion than the large African-American and Hispanic communities," Trump said.
He claimed without citing any evidence that illegal immigrants are taking their jobs.