Right-wing commentator Mike Huckabee is facing a fierce backlash for his recent remarks in which he expressed concern about potential violence in future elections if Donald Trump were to lose in 2024 due to his increasing legal troubles.
Over the weekend, Huckabee accused President Joe Biden of attempting to undermine Trump through legal actions in the courtroom rather than through the electoral process.
“Here’s the problem. If these tactics end up working to keep Trump from winning or even running in 2024, it is going to be the last American election that will be decided by ballots rather than bullets,” he said during his monologue on his TBN show “Huckabee.”
Trump is currently facing a total of 91 felony charges across four different cases, including charges related to mishandling classified information, his efforts to retain power after losing the 2020 election, and his attempts to overturn the election results in Georgia.
Huckabee compared these legal proceedings to those seen in “banana republics and communist regimes,” where political opponents are often imprisoned or exiled on fabricated charges. He claimed that Joe Biden was employing similar tactics to ensure that Donald Trump would not be his opponent in the 2024 election.
It’s worth noting that Huckabee is a former governor of Arkansas and the father of Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as a White House press secretary under Trump.
Huckabee’s remarks are the latest in a series of provocative statements made by individuals aligned with the former president. For instance, Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore recently called to defund Fani Willis, the district attorney prosecuting Trump in the state, and warned of dire consequences if the case were allowed to proceed.
Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has also hinted at the possibility of a civil war and called on Trump supporters to “rise up and take our country back.”
Additionally, failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake made veiled remarks regarding President Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and special counsel Jack Smith, stating that they would have to go through her and millions of NRA members to reach Donald Trump.
Critics on social media, including on X (formerly Twitter), have called out Huckabee for his extremist rhetoric.
“What a clown,” former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger wrote in response. Others quickly piled up.
Is this a threat?
Mike Huckabee says that if Trump isn’t elected president,
The 2024 election is going to be “the last American election that will be decided by ballots rather than bullets." pic.twitter.com/3tYTTd4Hvd
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) September 6, 2023
What a clown.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee Says if Trump Loses, 2024 Could Be Last Election ‘Decided by Ballots Rather Than Bullets’ – The Messenger https://t.co/Fjz8YkOXxY
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@AdamKinzinger) September 7, 2023
Mike Hucksbee is the most recent GOPer to ride the fascist train, but he won’t be the last. pic.twitter.com/iqqzx4Jlgz
— Rob Thornton (@rthornton777) September 7, 2023
Mike Huckabee is a domestic terrorist who has gotten away with using religion for too many years while pushing hate and violence. His most recent comments should be taken seriously and result in his arrest. https://t.co/Cd3Bx9BTLA
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 6, 2023
It is and FBI should be knocking on his door. That isn’t free speech
— Barbara 💐 (@Barbara99878512) September 7, 2023
Key term here is “made-up crimes”. Trump’s crimes are not made-up.
— Mako Management (@mako_management) September 7, 2023
They want war when they do not like the outcome pic.twitter.com/hQQ1ijMRPU
— Avez (@andrevezina9) September 6, 2023
Shame on you https://t.co/obW8zXQJbN
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) September 6, 2023
He’s a “pro-life” Christian pastor, FYI. https://t.co/YVjwEmVYir
— @ijbailey (@ijbailey) September 6, 2023
Let us win or we'll murder ya and take over anyway is a hell of a campaign slogan. https://t.co/8LL7cUZtBW
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) September 6, 2023