Fact check: Did Donald Trump say he wants to to be a dictator, would be a dictator, and/or other people said he should be one?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Donald Trump has not explicitly stated that he wants to be a dictator, but the evidence reveals a more nuanced picture. Trump has made several statements that reference dictatorship in various contexts:

• Trump stated "a lot of people say, 'You know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator'" when discussing crime prevention ^{[1] [2]}
• He has said "a lot of people are saying maybe we'd like a dictator" ^{[3] [4]}
• Trump explicitly denied being a dictator, stating "I'm not a dictator. I just know how to stop crime" and "I'm not a dictator, I'm a man with great common sense" ^{[5] [4]}
• One source notes that Trump has previously suggested he would like to be a dictator, at least for a day, during his 2024 campaign ^[5]

Regarding others calling him a dictator or suggesting he should be one, former Trump administration officials, such as John Kelly, have described Trump as preferring a 'dictator approach' to government ^[3]. Additionally, hundreds of scholars say the US is moving toward authoritarianism under his leadership ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important contextual information that emerges from the analyses:

• Trump's statements about dictatorship appear to be framed as reflecting what "other people" are saying rather than his own desires ^{[1] [3] [2]}
• The analyses reveal Trump's actions have been characterized as authoritarian by multiple sources, including descriptions of his "disregard for the limits of his power" ^[7] and "consolidation of power" with "authoritarian hallmarks such as purging dissenters and demanding total institutional loyalty" ^[8]
• Trump has also used the term "dictator" to describe others, such as calling Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker a dictator ^[9], which may indicate he views the term negatively
• The question doesn't address the distinction between Trump's public statements and his documented behavioral patterns that scholars and former officials have characterized as authoritarian

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while not technically containing misinformation, creates a binary framework that may oversimplify a complex issue. The question implies that explicit statements about wanting to be a dictator are the primary evidence to consider, when the analyses show that:

• The evidence is more about Trump's authoritarian actions and approach to governance rather than explicit declarations of dictatorial ambitions ^{[7] [6] [8]}
• Trump's actual statements tend to attribute pro-dictator sentiments to "other people" while he simultaneously denies being a dictator himself ^{[1] [3] [4]}
• The framing ignores the substantial body of evidence from former officials and scholars who have characterized his governance style as authoritarian based on actions rather than statements ^{[3] [6] [8]}

The question's focus on explicit verbal declarations may inadvertently minimize the significance of documented authoritarian behaviors and the concerns raised by government officials and academic experts.