Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has told a crowd of Christians they won’t have to vote again if they vote for him in November, saying “we’ll have it fixed so good”.
The former president, who faces federal and state prosecution for his alleged attempts to overturn the US election result in 2020, was attending an event organised by conservative group Turning Point Action in West Palm Beach, Florida, when he made the perplexing remarks.
“Christians, get out and vote, just this time,” he said.
“You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years, you know what, it will be fixed, it will be fine, you won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians.”
He added: “I love you Christians. I’m a Christian. I love you, get out, you gotta 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.”
US presidents are only allowed to stay in power for eight years in total. As Mr Trump has already served one term, he would only have four years left in the White House if he was re-elected in the 5 November vote.
It was not clear what Mr Trump meant by his comments in an election campaign where his Democratic opponents accuse him of being a threat to democracy and after his alleged attempt to overturn his 2020 defeat to US President Joe Biden.
Asked for clarification, Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, told Sky’s partner network NBC: “President Trump was talking about the importance of faith, uniting this country and bringing prosperity to every American, as opposed to the divisive political environment that has sowed so much division and even resulted in an assassination attempt.”
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Donald Trump: Kamala Harris is ‘a radical left lunatic’
The race for the top job in the White House has suddenly narrowed since President Biden decided to drop his quest for re-election and vice president Kamala Harris became the likely Democratic nominee.
Recent opinion polls show Mr Trump’s significant lead over Mr Biden – who eventually quit the race amid widespread concerns over his health and age – has been largely erased since the torch was passed to Ms Harris.
During his speech in West Palm Beach, the former Republican leader attacked Ms Harris, calling her a “bum” and a “failed vice president” over what he said was her poor management of the southern border.
“She was a bum three weeks ago. She was a bum,” Mr Trump said, according to NBC.
“A failed vice president in a failed administration, with millions of people crossing, and she was the border czar.”
A spokesperson for the Harris campaign responded to Mr Trump’s speech saying the former president “couldn’t pronounce words”.
Mr Trump also “sounded like someone you wouldn’t want to sit near at a restaurant – let alone be President of the United States,” they added.