Chris Sununu Claims Trump's 'Won't Have to Vote Anymore' Remark Was Meaningless
Democrats have viewed the comments as evidence that the Republican nominee poses a threat to democracy.
TroibNews 
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on Sunday downplayed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s statement from Friday, where Trump suggested people "won’t have to vote anymore" if he is elected, calling it typical Trump rhetoric.
“I think it was a classic Trumpism if you will,” Sununu remarked to host Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week.” Sununu’s interpretation differed significantly from how many Democrats perceived the comment — as a direct threat to American democratic institutions.
Speaking at the Turning Point Action Believers’ Summit in Florida on Friday, the former president said, “Get out and vote just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years it will be fixed. It’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians."
Trump further stated: "You’ve got to get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again, we’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote.”
Sununu, a Republican, interpreted the word "fixed" to mean that the country could be improved, rather than implying future elections would be manipulated to a predetermined outcome.
“Obviously we want everybody to vote in all elections, but I think he was just trying to make a hyperbolic point that it can be fixed as long as he gets back into office and all that,” Sununu commented.
Trump’s remarks raised concerns among progressives, who viewed them as indications that he might not permit future elections if he is elected. The Harris campaign responded on Saturday: "When Vice President Harris says this election is about freedom, she means it."
Spokesperson James Singer also commented about Trump: "He has promised violence if he loses, the end of our elections if he wins, and the termination of the Constitution to empower him to be a dictator to enact his dangerous Project 2025 agenda on America.”
Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) posted the Trump clip on X, saying, "The only way 'you won’t have to vote anymore' is if Donald Trump becomes a dictator." Similarly, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) noted on X: “This year democracy is on the ballot, and if we are to save it, we must vote against authoritarianism. Here Trump helpfully reminds us that the alternative is never having the chance to vote again.”
Liberal commentator Keith Olbermann summed it up as: "Oh. Trump just cancelled the 2028 election."
Republicans viewed the situation with much less concern. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said on CNN's "State of the Union" that the former president was "obviously making a joke."
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also dismissed the notion of Trump being a threat to democracy, saying on CBS' "Face the Nation," "He's trying to tell the Christian community and anybody else who's listening, the nightmare that we're experiencing will soon be over, give me four more years and I'm gonna ride this ship called America and pass it on to the next generation."
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
“I think it was a classic Trumpism if you will,” Sununu remarked to host Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week.” Sununu’s interpretation differed significantly from how many Democrats perceived the comment — as a direct threat to American democratic institutions.
Speaking at the Turning Point Action Believers’ Summit in Florida on Friday, the former president said, “Get out and vote just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years it will be fixed. It’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians."
Trump further stated: "You’ve got to get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again, we’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote.”
Sununu, a Republican, interpreted the word "fixed" to mean that the country could be improved, rather than implying future elections would be manipulated to a predetermined outcome.
“Obviously we want everybody to vote in all elections, but I think he was just trying to make a hyperbolic point that it can be fixed as long as he gets back into office and all that,” Sununu commented.
Trump’s remarks raised concerns among progressives, who viewed them as indications that he might not permit future elections if he is elected. The Harris campaign responded on Saturday: "When Vice President Harris says this election is about freedom, she means it."
Spokesperson James Singer also commented about Trump: "He has promised violence if he loses, the end of our elections if he wins, and the termination of the Constitution to empower him to be a dictator to enact his dangerous Project 2025 agenda on America.”
Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) posted the Trump clip on X, saying, "The only way 'you won’t have to vote anymore' is if Donald Trump becomes a dictator." Similarly, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) noted on X: “This year democracy is on the ballot, and if we are to save it, we must vote against authoritarianism. Here Trump helpfully reminds us that the alternative is never having the chance to vote again.”
Liberal commentator Keith Olbermann summed it up as: "Oh. Trump just cancelled the 2028 election."
Republicans viewed the situation with much less concern. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said on CNN's "State of the Union" that the former president was "obviously making a joke."
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also dismissed the notion of Trump being a threat to democracy, saying on CBS' "Face the Nation," "He's trying to tell the Christian community and anybody else who's listening, the nightmare that we're experiencing will soon be over, give me four more years and I'm gonna ride this ship called America and pass it on to the next generation."
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
