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Former president and current GOP frontrunner Donald Trump<\/strong> gleefully reminded the audience that he\u2019d become a \u201ddictator\u201d for the first day of a second presidential term in a rambling keynote<\/a> at the New York Young Republicans Club (NYYRC) annual gala at the ritzy Cipriani restaurant on Wall Street.<\/p>\n During his 80-minute speech to a crowd of 1,000 MAGA donors, politicians, and influencers on Saturday, Trump brought up viral comments he made last Tuesday in a town hall with Fox News host Sean Hannity<\/strong>, who asked the former president whether he would commit to not abusing his presidential power to retaliate against political enemies if re-elected in 2024.<\/p>\n Trump replied that he would only be a dictator on \u201cday one.\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re closing the border. And we\u2019re drilling, drilling, drilling,\u201d he said<\/a>. \u201cAfter that, I\u2019m not a dictator.\u201d<\/p>\n The GOP frontrunner returned to the line Saturday. \u201c[Peter] Baker<\/strong> today in The<\/em> New York Times<\/em> said that I want to be a dictator,\u201d Trump complained, referencing an article<\/a> covering how Trump and his allies are \u201cleaning into\u201d the charge that they plan on assuming dictatorial powers if re-elected. \u201cI didn\u2019t say that. I said I want to be a dictator for one day.\u201d<\/p>\n In recent years, the NYYRC winter soiree has become something of a gathering point for the American far-right conservatives. At last year\u2019s installment, NYYRC president Gavin Wax<\/strong> declared<\/a> \u201ctotal war\u201d on the right\u2019s political enemies, vowing to \u201cdo battle in every arena. In the media. In the courtroom. At the ballot box. And in the streets.\u201d<\/p>\n The club\u2019s president reprised those remarks Saturday night. \u201cSince I know the deep state is listening tonight, once President Trump is back in office, we won\u2019t be playing nice anymore,\u201d Wax said. \u201cIt will be a time for retribution. All those responsible for destroying our once-great country will be held to account after baseless years of investigations, and government lies and media lies against this man,\u201d he said, vowing \u201cto turn the tables on these actual crooks and lock them up for a change.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump greeted Wax\u2019s speech warmly, twice calling it an \u201cexcellent speech.\u201d<\/p>\n In his first-ever appearance at the 111-year-old annual event, the former president claimed that Democrats\u2019 \u201cnewest hoax\u201d is to call him a threat to democracy. \u201cThis is their new line. Here we go again \u2014 \u2018Russia, Russia, Russia,\u2019 \u2018Mueller, Mueller, Mueller,\u2019 \u2018Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine.\u2019 One hoax after another,\u201d Trump added.<\/p>\n Trump also delivered a message to President Joe Biden<\/strong>, who greeted his original \u201cday one\u201d comment by joking<\/a>, \u201cThank God, only one day.\u201d \u201cI can only say to Joe: Be very careful what you wish for, but [what] you have done is a terrible thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n