Trump Doubles Down on Dictator Vow as Critics Continue Sounding Alarm

Donald Trump mocked accusations he wants to be a "dictator" by doubling down on his controversial vow to be an authoritarian leader on "day one" of his presidency.

"The New York Times said that I wanna be a dictator. I didn't say that. I said I wanna be a dictator for one day," Trump told a crowd at an event hosted by the New York Young Republican Club, which included long-time Trump allies Steve Bannon and Rudy Giuliani.

During a recent town hall, Fox News' Sean Hannity asked Trump if he would promise not to "abuse his power" as a dictator if he wins the White House.

"Except for day one," Trump responded.

"You know why I wanted to be a dictator?" Trump asked on Saturday. "Because I want a wall. Right? I want a wall, and I wanna drill, drill, drill" — accomplishments that seem unrealistic in a single 24-hour period in the White House.

The former president earned cheers from the Republican crowd as he made light of the Hannity moment — but his critics continue to sound the alarm over the "dictator" vow, and Trump's repeated vows to seek retribution from political enemies if he regains power.

He previously promised to root out the "vermin" who don't support him if he returned to the White House.

"I saw the other day where he pledged to be a dictator on day one. And you kind of wonder what it will take for people to believe him when he tells us what he is," former Vice President Al Gore told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday, arguing that Trump is a threat to democracy.

Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, meanwhile pushed back on concerns about Trump potentially embracing authoritarianism in a Sunday discussion with Tapper.

Asked if he has concern Trump might "try to abuse his power" when back in office, Vance shot down the argument.

"No, Jake, I don't. Look, the guy was president for four years. We had peace, we had prosperity, we had wages rising... the idea that Trump is going to be radically different than what he was four years ago is just preposterous," Vance said.

Tapper also highlighted a recent clip of former Trump aide Kash Patel pledging to "come after" people in the media and federal government if Trump returns to office.

Trump claimed on Saturday that calling him a threat to democracy is a "hoax" by Democrats.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, also addressed Trump's comments on Sunday, referring to him as a "human gum ball machine."

"Donald Trump is kind of a human gum ball machine — which [means] a thought or a notion comes in and it comes out of his mouth. There's not a lot of filter that goes on," Romney told Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press."

The senator and vocal Trump critic said he doesn't attach the same "impact" to Trump's statement as others, but argued Trump does have an "authoritarian approach" to government.

"That give me far more concern than him playing to the crowd, as he did," Romney said.