Trump said he would be a dictator only on “day one”

Date: 2023-12-05
Entry type: authoritarian-rhetoric
Current status: This is a documented campaign statement, not a finding that dictatorship was established.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-03

Entities and roles

Donald J. Trumpcandidate making the statement
Trump's day-one dictator statementtelevised campaign statement

Claims and evidence

factreported
At a televised town hall, Trump said he would not be a dictator “except for day one.”
- ABC News: Trump raises new alarms by saying he would not be a dictator 'except on day one'Fox News town hall exchange