Jonathan Capehart Asks If Trump Win Means ‘The American People Have Given Up On Democracy’

In the early morning hours on Wednesday when it became clear that former President Donald Trump would win re-election, Washington Post editor Jonathan Capehart wondered on PBS if the decisive win meant that Americans simply didn’t want to live in a democracy anymore.

Capehart cited Trump’s own rhetoric to come to his question, saying that he openly talks about using the office of the presidency to go after his political enemies:

Well, you know, I come to elections with a sense of humility simply because, you know, polls don’t vote, people vote. And so in elections, we finally get to hear what the American people have to say. And I’ve come to this election with an open mind, and I want to know what the American people have to say. What was it, six hours ago, I was mystified by what was going on. And now I can’t help but think that if this election seems to be, if it proves out that the millions of people who are watching Fox News, if that ends up being the case, then I can’t help but wonder if the American people have given up on democracy simply because of what he’s told us, what he wants to do, simply because of what the Supreme Court decided in terms of immunity. I mean, he has said he will, he wants to go after his political enemies. “I am your retribution.”

So, if indeed what Fox is reporting, if that ends up being true and ends up being the case, then this conversation about who we are as a country, I was going to say will pop off in earnest. But I think we will have an answer, especially because I’m looking over your shoulder. You know, right now, Donald Trump has 51.2 percent of total votes, 51.2.

Watch the video above via PBS.