Former president Donald Trump tells Christians they ‘won’t have to’ vote again after election

Former president Donald Trump has sparked concern after making a bizarre suggestion while speaking at a religious summit in Florida.

Former president Donald Trump has given a bizarre directive while speaking at a summit in Florida.

The Republican presidential nominee was speaking on Friday night, local time, at The Believers’ Summit 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida, when he instructed Christian attendees that they “won’t have to” vote again after this election, saying “we’ll have it fixed so good”.

Mr Trump went on to say that Americans must vote this November, suggesting that if Christians do head to the polls, all will “be fixed” in four years.

“You won’t have to do it anymore, four more years, you know what? It’ll be fixed, it’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote anymore,” he said at the event.

Former US President Donald Trump has called on Christians to vote. Picture: Chandan Khanna/AFP

“You’ve got to get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not going to have to vote.

“Christians get out and vote. Just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years. You know what? It’ll be fixed. It’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote anymore my beautiful Christians.”

It was not immediately clear what Mr Trump meant by the comments.

When questioned, Mr Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung said the former president “was talking about uniting this country”.

But the remarks sat uncomfortably with commentators.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a Turning Point USA Believers Summit conference in Florida. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP

Mr Trump said Christians should vote this year and all ‘will be fixed’ by 2028. Picture: Chandan Khanna/AFP

“This is not subtle Christian nationalism. He’s talking about ending our democracy,” constitutional and civil rights lawyer Andrew Seidel said.

NBC legal commentator Katie Phang said: “In other words, Trump won’t ever leave the White House if he gets re-elected.”

Seinfeld and Veep actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus posted Mr Trump’s whole statement on Instagram and wrote in her caption: “Donald Trump just said the quiet part OUT LOUD when talking to Christian nationalists at the conservative group Turning Point Action’s Believer’s Summit.

“Let’s not wish we did more in November,” she added, before encouraging followers to register to vote.

Fellow actor Morgan Fairchild said on X: “But … what if I want to vote again? I was always raised that we get to vote again! That is America.”

“Democracy is in danger. This is not a drill,” prominent podcaster Allison Gill said.

Mr Trump’s comments came months after he said he would be “a dictator on day one” if re-elected to the White House.

Trump ‘was struck by bullet’: FBI

The rally in Florida came after the FBI weighed in on speculation the former president was not actually wounded by a bullet in his assassination attempt, despite insistence that he was.

A furious row had erupted between Mr Trump and FBI director Christopher Wray, who earlier this week said it wasn’t clear whether Mr Trump was hit by a bullet, or merely shrapnel or glass.

People cheer as former President Donald Trump exits from the stage during a Turning Point USA Believers Summit. Picture: Joe Raedle /Getty Images via AFP

Former US President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the summit. Picture: Chandan Khanna/AFP

In a new statement released on Saturday morning AEST, the FBI sought to clear up conflicting accounts.

“What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle,” the agency said in a statement.

Earlier, Mr Trump’s doctor said there was “absolutely no evidence that it was anything other than a bullet” that struck the former president.

Former President Donald Trump was seen without any bandage or dressing on his wounded ear. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images via AFP

The group at the summit in Florida. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP

“Director Wray is wrong and inappropriate to suggest anything else,” Dr Ronny Jackson, who is also a Republican Congressman from Texas, said.

The doctor also gave an update on Mr Trump’s recovery.

“I want to reassure the American people and the rest of the world, that President Trump is doing extremely well,” he said.

Mr Trump has now removed the bandage from his ear that sparked copycat bandages sported by his supporters.