Updated Aug 26, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Trump on dictator accusations: "I just know how to stop crime"

Rebecca Falconer

A man with light blond hair, President Trump, in a navy suit and red patterned tie gestures with his right hand, speaking with an expressive face. Blurred flags and gold decor are in the background. — President Trump holds a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Trump on Tuesday responded to criticism of his D.C. crime crackdown after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker called him a "wannabe dictator" over threats to target Chicago and other Democratic-run cities.

What he's saying: "Instead of saying, 'Trump's right about crime, it's really bad in Chicago, you have ... the governor of Illinois saying that crime has been much better in Chicago recently and Trump is a dictator," the president said. "Most people say, 'If you go with dictator, if he stops crime, he can be, he can be whatever he wants — I'm not a dictator, by the way."

Trump also took aim at Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who called the president's threat to send troops to Baltimore "unconstitutional," claiming he had privately praised the president but then called him a dictator.
"The line is that I'm a dictator, but I stop crime. So a lot of people say, 'You know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator,'" Trump said. "But I'm not a dictator. I just know how to stop crime."

What they're saying: David Turner, a spokesperson for the Maryland governor's office, said in an emailed statement that Moore had never publicly called Trump a dictator and that the president had "hallucinated" having conversations with the governor.

The big picture: Trump's comments built on similar remarks he made on Monday when he claimed "a lot of people are saying maybe we like a dictator," despite a nonpartisan survey published before the D.C. crackdown finding a majority of Americans view him as a "dangerous dictator."

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Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from the Maryland governor's office.

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Trump on dictator accusations: "I just know how to stop crime"

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