US elections 2024 Trump warns of chaos in US election caused by "far-left lunatics"
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump warns of possible chaos caused by "radical left-wing lunatics" around the US election and promotes the use of the American military against the "enemy within".
14.10.2024, 03:38
16.10.2024, 09:59
SDA
In an interview with the conservative television station Fox News, the 78-year-old said that he did not expect chaos on election day from his supporters. When asked about "agitators" from abroad, Trump replied: "I think the bigger problem is the enemy within."
He lamented: "We have some very bad people. We have some sick people, radical left-wing nuts. And I think they are the problem." The ex-president pleaded for tough action to be taken against them, "if necessary by the National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military".
As examples of "enemies within", he cited politicians such as Democratic congressman Adam Schiff, who is a proven critic of Trump and played a prominent role in the impeachment proceedings against the former president. Trump claimed that "enemies within" were more dangerous than foreign enemies such as China or Russia.
Fear of renewed outbreaks of violence
The political mood in the USA has been heated for a long time. The presidential election in just over three weeks, on November 5, is the first since the dramatic upheavals surrounding the 2020 election, which ended in an unprecedented outbreak of violence after Trump did not concede defeat but instead incited his supporters with claims of electoral fraud. This ended with a violent attack by Trump supporters on the seat of parliament in the capital, Washington, on January 6, 2021.
There are fears that something similar could happen again. In the current election campaign, Trump is once again stoking fears without any evidence that the Democrats could steal another victory from him.
In addition, there has already been an escalation of a different kind: in mid-July, a gunman shot at the Republican from a nearby rooftop at a campaign event in Pennsylvania, injuring him in the ear. The perpetrator was shot by security forces and one visitor died. The Secret Service also believes it has foiled another attempt on Trump's life.
