Topline
President Donald Trump said “a lot of people are saying ‘maybe we’d like a dictator,’” but insisted he isn’t one—making the bizarre comment in response to critics of his federal police takeover in Washington and plans to replicate the effort in other cities.
President Donald Trump signs a series of executive Orders in the Oval Office at the White House on August 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Trump said “I don’t like a dictator. I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with great common sense and a smart person,” during a news-packed Oval Office press conference Monday where he signed executive orders to escalate his Washington crime crackdown.
This is a developing story and will be updated.