Donald Trump says US democracy would end, warns of ‘bloodbath’ if he’s not elected

Former US President Donald Trump has said American democracy would likely come to an end if he does not win November’s presidential election.

He also said it would be a “bloodbath” for the whole country if he did not get elected. Trump’s remarks came after he reiterated that his 2020 election defeat to Democratic President Joe Biden was the result of election fraud.

“If we don’t win this election, I don’t think you’re going to have another election in this country,” Trump said in Dayton, during an outdoor speech that was whipped by strong winds and punctuated by some profane language.

In the middle of a section in his speech about placing tariffs on imported cars, and foreign competition for the US auto industry, Trump also said, “If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole country.”

Later, in clarification, his campaign pointed to a post on the social media platform X by a New York Times journalist, which said Trump’s “bloodbath” comment came amid a discussion about the US auto industry and the economy, news agency Reuters reported.

During his opening remarks, the former US President paid tribute to his supporters who are currently in jail for rioting at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, as they sought to block certification of Biden’s 2020 election win.

Trump saluted and called them “patriots” and “hostages”.

Trump, who is under criminal indictment in Georgia for trying to overturn the result of the 2020 election there, this week won enough delegates to mathematically clinch the Republican nomination.

A general election rematch with Biden is likely to be extremely close.