American Presidents Aren't Supposed To Be Dictators - Not Even For One Day

In recent days, defeated, former President Donald Trump has said aloud he will be a "dictator for a day".

Trump first brought it up last week during an interview with Sean Hannity.

Hannity: Under, no circumstances, you are promising America tonight you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody.

Trump: Except for day one. Except for day one.

Hannity: Meaning?

Trump: I wanna close the border and I want to drill, drill, drill.

Hannity: That's not retribution.

Trump: I'm gonna be, you know...he says, "You're not gonna be a dictator, are you?" I said no, no, no, other than day one. We're closing the border and we're drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I'm not a dictator.

Trump then reiterated the statement over the weekend while speaking at the New York Young Republican Club gala. The defeated, former President took issue with New York Times White House correspondents Peter Baker's column on Trump's dictator remarks. 

“I didn’t say that. I said I want to be a dictator for one day. You know why I wanted to be a dictator?", asked Trump, "Because I want a wall, and I want to drill, drill, drill."

Well, first Trump said he wanted to close the border and then he said wants a wall. Those things aren't mutually exclusive. As for drill, drill, drill, the fact is that the Biden Administration is doing far more drilling for domestic oil than did the Trump Administration much to the consternation of environment activists. 

While an American President can issue executive orders, an American President cannot be a dictator be it on the border/wall, drilling for oil or arbitrarily imprisoning your political opponents or those who offer criticism. 

Being a dictator means that one is not subject to oversight of any kind be it by Congress, the courts or the media. Being a dictator means one has absolute power. Those who have absolute power for one day are not going to give it up the next day.

I don't think we can overlook the fact that Trump said "except for day one" when Hannity asked him about abusing power as retribution. This a man who has told us his supporters, "I am your retribution."  

If Trump doesn't think anyone will stop him from gaining retribution against his political opponents and critics, then what makes anyone think he won't try?

Naturally, the question is do enough Americans care. If a critical mass of Americans thinks a 3.7% unemployment rate under President Biden is catastrophic and that their lot in life is lousy then what are the chances that they think democracy is worth saving?

In which case, Americans are going to learn the hard way when a second Trump term turns out to be a presidency-for-life. That is if they learn at all.

The only silver lining I see is if Trump keeps talking about wanting to be a dictator. If he spends more time talking about being a dictator than helping the people, then we can only hope that a plurality of Americans thinks their democracy isn't so bad after all and give President Biden, a man with no dictatorial ambitions, another shot.