Former President Donald Trump gave a strange directive while speaking at a conference in Florida.
Speaking Friday night local time at The Believers' Summit 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Republican presidential candidate instructed the Christian audience that they “don't have to” vote after this election, and said “we”. It will be fixed properly. “
Mr. Trump went on to say that Americans must vote this November, and suggested that if Christians get to the polls, everything will be “all right” in four years.
“You don't have to do it again, four more years, you know? It will be fixed, it will be fixed. You will not vote again,” he said at the event.
“You have to get out and vote. In four years, you don't have to vote again. We'll make it right, you don't have to choose.
“Christians get out and vote. This time. You don't have to do that anymore. Four more years. You know what? It will be fixed. It will be fine. You cute Christians don't have to vote anymore.”
It was not clear what Mr Trump meant by the comments.
When asked, Mr Trump's spokesman Steven Cheung said that “the former president talked about uniting this country”.
But commentators were not happy with the remark.
“This is not a subtle Christian nationalism. He's talking about ending our democracy,” said Andrew Seidel, a constitutional and civil rights attorney.
NBC legal commentator Katie Phang said: “In other words, Trump will not leave the White House if he is re-elected.”
Seinfeld SY Veep Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus posted Mr Trump's full statement on Instagram and wrote in the caption: “Donald Trump said the quiet part out loud when he spoke to Christian nationalists in at the conservative group Turning Point Action's Believer's Summit.
“Let's not want to do more in November,” he added, before urging followers to register to vote.
X actor Morgan Fairchild said: “But … what if I want to vote again? I was always raised to vote again! This is America.”
“Democracy is in danger. It’s not a workout,” says popular podcaster Allison Gill.
Mr Trump's comments came months after he said he would be a “dictator from day one” if elected to the White House.
Trump 'hit by a bullet': FBI
The rally in Florida came after the FBI investigated speculation that the former president was not actually shot in an assassination attempt, despite insistence that he was.
There was a furious row between Mr. Trump and FBI Director Christopher Wray, who earlier this week said it was unclear whether Mr. Trump had been hit by a bullet, shrapnel or just glass.
In a new statement released on Saturday morning AEST, the FBI sought to clear up the conflicting accounts.
“What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, either whole or broken into pieces, fired from a dead rifle,” the agency said in a statement.
Earlier, Mr Trump's doctor said there was “absolutely no evidence that anything other than a bullet” had hit the former president.
“Director Wray is wrong and it's wrong to suggest anything else,” said Dr. Ronny Jackson, who is also a Republican congressman from Texas.
Doctors also gave an update on Mr Trump's recovery.
“I want to reassure the American people and the rest of the world that President Trump is doing well,” he said.
Mr Trump has now removed the earrings from his ear which has sparked a backlash from his supporters.
