Trump Suggests Military Intervention to Maintain Order on Election Day
His proposal would signify an unprecedented intrusion into the democratic process.
TroibNews 
In a recent interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," former President Donald Trump expressed that the military should be deployed if necessary to handle what he termed “some sick people, radical-left lunatics” in anticipation of potential chaos on Election Day.
“I think the bigger problem is the people from within. We have some very bad people, some sick people, radical-left lunatics,” Trump remarked to Bartiromo. He suggested that the National Guard, or even the military if needed, could manage the situation, emphasizing the urgency to prevent chaos.
When asked about expectations for disorder on Election Day, Trump stated, “No, not from the side that votes for Trump.” He expressed belief that the major issue lies not with incoming individuals, whom he accused of "totally destroying our country," but rather with threats emerging "from within."
The notion of utilizing military forces on Election Day has raised concerns regarding the integrity of the voting process. While the Insurrection Act of 1807 allows the president to deploy the National Guard and military for such crises, Trump had previously considered invoking this law in response to protests following George Floyd's death but ultimately refrained from action.
The Harris campaign swiftly condemned Trump’s statements. Campaign spokesperson Ian Sams remarked, "Donald Trump is suggesting that his fellow Americans are worse ‘enemies’ than foreign adversaries, and he is saying he would use the military against them." He continued to criticize Trump's rhetoric, stating, "What Donald Trump is promising is dangerous, and returning him to office is simply a risk Americans cannot afford.”
Bartiromo highlighted President Joe Biden's uncertainty about a peaceful transition, which Trump dismissed. He reinforced his belief that the “enemy from within” poses a greater threat than foreign nations like China or Russia, stating, “The enemy from within, in my opinion, is more dangerous than China, Russia and all these countries because if you have a smart president, he can handle them pretty easily.”
In the interview, Trump characterized Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, whom he dubbed “a total sleazebag” and “Adam shifty Schiff,” as one of those internal threats. Schiff, responding to Trump's comments during a rally in Coachella, California, described Trump's narrative as a “nonsensical rant” filled with outdated insults.
Trump also discussed various other topics, including his plans for Elon Musk if re-elected. He mentioned Musk's desire to take on a “cost-cutting” role that isn’t a Cabinet position, asserting, “he doesn’t want to be in the Cabinet, he wants to be in charge of cost-cutting.” He praised Musk for his support, particularly noting his campaigning efforts in Pennsylvania.
While aware of conspiracy theories regarding the origins of the coronavirus, Trump expressed skepticism. “A lot of people said they did the Covid thing because they wanted to see if they could get this guy out of office. I don’t believe that, I think it was just incompetence,” he remarked, suggesting an explanation related to a lab incident in Wuhan.
As the election approaches, Trump expressed confidence in his standing in swing state polls and declared the border situation a greater concern than the economy. “We've been led by a man who's in great decline, and now we have a woman who's worse than he is. And we have to win the election,” he warned, declaring November 5th to be "the most important day in the history of our country."
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
“I think the bigger problem is the people from within. We have some very bad people, some sick people, radical-left lunatics,” Trump remarked to Bartiromo. He suggested that the National Guard, or even the military if needed, could manage the situation, emphasizing the urgency to prevent chaos.
When asked about expectations for disorder on Election Day, Trump stated, “No, not from the side that votes for Trump.” He expressed belief that the major issue lies not with incoming individuals, whom he accused of "totally destroying our country," but rather with threats emerging "from within."
The notion of utilizing military forces on Election Day has raised concerns regarding the integrity of the voting process. While the Insurrection Act of 1807 allows the president to deploy the National Guard and military for such crises, Trump had previously considered invoking this law in response to protests following George Floyd's death but ultimately refrained from action.
The Harris campaign swiftly condemned Trump’s statements. Campaign spokesperson Ian Sams remarked, "Donald Trump is suggesting that his fellow Americans are worse ‘enemies’ than foreign adversaries, and he is saying he would use the military against them." He continued to criticize Trump's rhetoric, stating, "What Donald Trump is promising is dangerous, and returning him to office is simply a risk Americans cannot afford.”
Bartiromo highlighted President Joe Biden's uncertainty about a peaceful transition, which Trump dismissed. He reinforced his belief that the “enemy from within” poses a greater threat than foreign nations like China or Russia, stating, “The enemy from within, in my opinion, is more dangerous than China, Russia and all these countries because if you have a smart president, he can handle them pretty easily.”
In the interview, Trump characterized Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, whom he dubbed “a total sleazebag” and “Adam shifty Schiff,” as one of those internal threats. Schiff, responding to Trump's comments during a rally in Coachella, California, described Trump's narrative as a “nonsensical rant” filled with outdated insults.
Trump also discussed various other topics, including his plans for Elon Musk if re-elected. He mentioned Musk's desire to take on a “cost-cutting” role that isn’t a Cabinet position, asserting, “he doesn’t want to be in the Cabinet, he wants to be in charge of cost-cutting.” He praised Musk for his support, particularly noting his campaigning efforts in Pennsylvania.
While aware of conspiracy theories regarding the origins of the coronavirus, Trump expressed skepticism. “A lot of people said they did the Covid thing because they wanted to see if they could get this guy out of office. I don’t believe that, I think it was just incompetence,” he remarked, suggesting an explanation related to a lab incident in Wuhan.
As the election approaches, Trump expressed confidence in his standing in swing state polls and declared the border situation a greater concern than the economy. “We've been led by a man who's in great decline, and now we have a woman who's worse than he is. And we have to win the election,” he warned, declaring November 5th to be "the most important day in the history of our country."
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
