President Donald Trump was asked Wednesday if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power after the November election – and declin...
President Donald Trump was asked Wednesday if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power after the November election – and declined to do so.
'Well, we’ll have to see what happens,' said Trump, when pressed on the matter at the White House.
It was a similar comment to those he made in 2016 when asked similar questions.
After refusing to go along with a pledge, the president attacked Democrats and delivered swipes that appeared to be directed at mail-in voting, the subject of his frequent attacks at the White House and at campaign rallies.
'Get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very peaceful – there won’t be a transfer frankly, there’ll be a continuation,' President Donald Trump said, in a likely reference to mail-in ballots
'Win lose or draw in this election will you commit here today for a peaceful transferal of power after the election?' Trump was asked at the top of his press briefing.
'Well, we’ll have to see what happens,' Trump replied – entertaining the question, but also refusing to commit.
His questioner pointed to 'rioting' in U.S. cities, and asked if Trump would commit to making sure there is a peaceful transfer of power after the election.
'You know that. I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster,' he said, in a likely reference to mail-in ballots. Trump regularly says they are rife with fraud, although a handful of states use them for elections.
Trump was asked if he would commit to a peaceful transfer 'win, lose, or draw' in his race against Democrat Joe Biden
Trump was asked about a peaceful transfer as police clashed with protesters marching through the streets of Louisville after a grand jury chose not to indict three officers in the death of Breonna Taylor on Wednesday afternoon
A man wears a shirt supporting U.S. President Donald Trump while waiting in a socially distant line to vote on the first day of early voting for the 2020 U.S. presidential election at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax, Virginia, U.S., September 18, 2020
Trump appeared to be referencing mail-in ballots when he said: 'Get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very peaceful – there won’t be a transfer frankly, there’ll be a continuation'
'Get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very peaceful – there won’t be a transfer frankly, there’ll be a continuation,' Trump said.
He continued: 'The ballots are out of control. You know if. And you know who knows it better than anybody else, the Democrats,' he said.
The president quickly moved on to other questions about the coronavirus and charges for an officer involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky.
The president's dodge came on a day when the Atlantic published an article titled The Election that Could Break America that played out scenarios where Trump would refuse to accept results amid court cases and recounts, and rejects the outcome even if rival Joe Biden appears to have won or be within sight of prevailing in the Electoral College.
The president made the comment as some of his fiercest critics have accused him of making moves toward authoritarianism. Biden said this summer trump will 'try to steal' but said he is convinced the military 'will escort him from the White House with great dispatch.'
The president faces the backdrop of ongoing investigations by prosecutors in New York that could implicate the president if he were to leave office.
On Wednesday, a New York judge ruled that Eric Trump must comply with a subpoena in a probe that extends to Trump Organization statements when obtaining financing for projects.
Trump concluded the briefing saying he had to take an 'emergency phone call' and turned the podium over to coronavirus advisor Dr. Scott Atlas.
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