Former President Donald Trump stated in a recent interview that he does not expect any chaos from his supporters on Election Day. During the interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, she asked Trump if he anticipates any chaos on November 5th, the day of the election. She also mentioned an Election Day terror plot that U.S. officials claimed to have prevented.
Trump responded by saying, “No, I don’t think [so]. Not from the side that votes for Trump.” When asked about the possibility of violence from illegal immigrants, Trump suggested that the bigger problem is the “enemy from within” and suggested calling in the National Guard if necessary.
The comment drew criticism from Ian Sams, a spokesperson and senior advisor for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign. Sams stated that Trump is suggesting fellow Americans are worse “enemies” than foreign adversaries and expressing willingness to use military force against them.
Bartiromo also referred to a recent statement made by President Joe Biden expressing concerns about potential violence during elections. Biden had said he was confident it would be free and fair but wasn’t sure if it would be peaceful due to possible dangerous comments from Trump regarding future elections.
Trump later told reporters in Georgia that he didn’t know anything about what Biden said and emphasized his desire for a fair election. This comment came after special counsel Jack Smith submitted a filing related to the 2020 election case against Trump.
With three weeks left until Election Day on November 5th, early voting has already begun across several states with over 4.4 million people having voted so far according to data collected by University of Florida’s Election Lab.
In other news related to Election Day security, an Afghan national named Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi was arrested for plotting an attack coinciding with next month’s elections. The U.S Department of Justice confirmed this arrest and revealed Tawhedi’s plans included ordering AK-47 rifles and making arrangements for his family’s travel back home to Afghanistan.
These developments come as FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasizes their commitment to protecting American citizens against terrorism as it remains their top priority.