Donald Trump REFUSES to rule out being 'a DICTATOR': Tells Sean Hannity he may get revenge on his enemies on 'Day One' - after dodging question about abusing the law to 'go after people'

Former President Donald Trump refused in a prime time town hall to rule out abusing power to go after his critics – saying he he wouldn't do it 'except for Day One' – when given multiple opportunities to forswear plans for vengeance or a power grab.

Trump made the extraordinary statements after Fox News host Sean Hannity questioned him directly on some of the worst charges from his critics – that he planned to 'abuse power' or use the justice system to take down his political rivals, and pointing out that some call him 'a dictator.'

'To be clear, do you in any way have any plans whatsoever if reelected president to abuse power, to break the law to use the government to go after people,' Hannity asked him.

'You mean like they’re using right now?' Trump responded, without answering the question directly.

'So in the history of our country? What's happened to us again, has never happened before. Over nonsense over nothing made up charges,' Trump said, returning to a refrain about being indicted more times (four) than infamous Chicago mobster Al Capone.

After Trump pivoted to other subjects in the sit-down interview, Hannity came back to the topic, after earlier playing a famous Trump clip telling supporters 'I am your retribution.' 

'You are promising America tonight you would never abuse power as retribution?' Hannity asked the former president, who is leading President Joe Biden in a series of polls.

'Except for Day One,' Trump answered.

'I want to close the border and I want to drill, drill, drill,' Trump said. 

Hannity queried Trump about his plans after after playing a clip of former House Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) called the threat of a Trump dictatorship 'a very real threat.'

Cheney, who served on the House January 6 committee and who is promoting a new book, said Monday that the 2024 election might 'be the last election that you ever get to vote in' if Trump wins.

Hannity himself gave a boost to some of the claims that Trump and his GOP allies have been making about his prosecution, putting up a graphic about a 'politicized and weaponized' Justice Department.

Trump is facing 91 counts in four criminal indictments, with his D.C. trial on his election overturn effort set to begin March 4, a day before Super Tuesday. 

Hannity also asked him about Biden's comment Tuesday that 'if Trump wasn't running, I'm not sure I'd be running.' 

'Somebody gave him a talking point,' Trump said, dismissing the comment.

Both Trump and Hannity accused Biden of suffering cognitive decline.

Trump also appeared to predict a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

He did so after repeating his claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he were president. 

'I used to speak to Putin about it. It was the apple of his eye – Ukraine,' Trump said.

'I said don’t do it,' Trump claimed, suggesting a threat.

He said Putin 'believed me 10 per cent,' which was enough to deter him.

Then he turned to Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying they 'had the same exact conversation.'

'He’s looking at Taiwan very strongly. It would have never happened. And again for four years, it didn't happen, and it was never going to happen. It would have never happened ... And now it’s very possibly going to happen, which would be a shame,' he said.

Trump went after Biden when Hannity teed up a question about Biden 'struggling cognitively.' He also played a clip with awkward pauses in Biden remarks.

'He wasn't able to lift the beach chair, which is meant for children to lift,' said Trump. 'And mentally, I would say he's possibly equally as bad and maybe worse. I don't know. I will say this: He's got vicious people surrounding him around that beautiful Oval Office.'