Trump won’t commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election

President Donald Trump refused Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the 2020 election to Democratic nominee Joe Biden. “Well, we’ll have to see what happens. You know that. I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster,” Trump said at a news conference at the White House. It appeared Trump was referring to mail-in ballots, which he has repeatedly condemned, without evidence, as susceptible to massive fraud.

The president had been asked by a reporter if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power, “win, lose or draw.” When the reporter noted that “people are rioting,” Trump replied: “Get rid of the ballots, and you’ll have a very – you’ll have a very peaceful – there won’t be a transfer, frankly, there’ll be a continuation.” “The ballots are out of control,” Trump said, adding, “The Democrats know it better than anybody else.”

The Biden campaign issued the following statement in response to Trump declining to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he were to lose the election: “The American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.” Minutes later, the president abruptly left the briefing room, telling the press, “I have to leave to take an emergency phone call.”

The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for details on Trump’s departure. Trump in his brief time at the rostrum also discussed his upcoming announcement of a nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Trump won’t commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election, CNBC, Sep 24