In a recent debate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris repeated several hoaxes about former President Donald Trump, including the so-called “dictator” hoax. This particular claim stems from an exchange between Trump and Fox News host Sean Hannity during a televised town hall event that took place in December 2023.
During the discussion, Hannity asked Trump if he had any plans to abuse power, break the law, or use the government to go after people if re-elected president. Trump responded by joking about his determination to enact his policies on “day one,” drawing laughter from the audience. This lighthearted comment has been taken out of context and used to propagate a false narrative that Trump desires to be a dictator.
The ABC News moderators, who were eager to fact-check Trump at every turn, failed to correct Harris’s familiar distortion of this incident. The truth is that Trump never made any serious claim that he would be a dictator; his statement was made in jest and should not be taken as a legitimate assertion.
In conclusion, the “dictator” hoax about Donald Trump is false. It is based on a joking remark made by the former president during a televised town hall event, which has been deliberately misconstrued to create an unfounded narrative. It is crucial for media outlets and political figures alike to avoid spreading misinformation by accurately representing statements made by public figures, even when they are intended as humor or sarcasm.