
Donald Trump on Wednesday night refeused to say if he will accept next month's election results. (Photo: YouTube/Screenshot)
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Donald Trump on Wednesday night refeused to say if he will accept next month's election results. (Photo: YouTube/Screenshot)
Asked directly and repeatedly during Wednesday night's debate, Donald Trump refused to say whether or not he will accept the election day results if he loses to Hillary Clinton on November 8th.
"I will look at it at the time. I'm not looking at anything now," Trump said when asked by moderator Chris Wallace about the Republican candidate's recent comments about the election being "rigged" against him.
"If you look at your voter rolls, you will see millions of people who are registered to vote" who should not be, said Trump. He then went on to declare that he also considers the process rigged because Clinton "should not be allowed to run" because of the controversy surrounding her State Department emails.
Wallace followed up to Trump's response by referencing the "tradition" in the United States "of the peaceful transfer of power and that no matter how hard fought a campaign is at the end of the campaign that the loser concedes to the winner" and then the country "comes together for the good of the country" to move forward. He then asked, "Are you saying now you're not prepared to commit to that principle?"
"What I'm saying," Trump responded, "is that I will tell you at the time. I'll keep you in suspense."
At this point, Clinton interjected, "That's horrifying."
She continued, "Every time Donald thinks things are not going his direction, he claims whatever it is is rigged against him... This is a mindset. This is how Donald thinks. And it's funny, but it's also really troubling."
Watch the exchange:
Reaction on social media was immediate, with critics calling Trump's position "unprecedented" "dangerous" and "disqualifying" for a presidential candidate to hold:
\u201cJohn Adams accepted peaceful transfer of power in 1800. That's been the standard for 216 years. Now Trump says: "I'll keep you in suspense."\u201d— John Nichols (@John Nichols) 1476929687
\u201cBri WIlliams seems to call Trump refusing to say he would accept election results "disqualifying."\u201d— Greg Mitchell (@Greg Mitchell) 1476931121
\u201cOur headline. (Everyone's headline)\nhttps://t.co/0HFxZlOCJs\u201d— Rebecca Sinderbrand (@Rebecca Sinderbrand) 1476930693
\u201c#Trump refusing to accept the results of the election is breathtaking, unhinged, and utterly disqualifying. Shame. #debate #Hillary\u201d— Daylin Leach (@Daylin Leach) 1476933872
\u201cPeaceful transition of power makes USA great! #Trump refusal to accept result of election is unpresidential & disqualifying remark #debate\u201d— Linda Shafran (@Linda Shafran) 1476932478
\u201c#GOP's Steve Schmidt on #Trump's refusal to accept the results of the election: "A disqualifying moment.... It's unprecedented." #debate\u201d— Tony Varona - @TonyVarona@mastodon.sdf.org (@Tony Varona - @TonyVarona@mastodon.sdf.org) 1476932348
\u201cNicolle Wallace: "It is a disqualifying moment when you say you won't accept the results of an election." #Hardball #debatenight #debate\u201d— Michael LaRosa (@Michael LaRosa) 1476932063
\u201cWhole debate boils down to @realDonaldTrump saying he might not accept results of the election. It's dangerous & disqualifying. #debate\u201d— Eric Klinenberg (@Eric Klinenberg) 1476931821
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Asked directly and repeatedly during Wednesday night's debate, Donald Trump refused to say whether or not he will accept the election day results if he loses to Hillary Clinton on November 8th.
"I will look at it at the time. I'm not looking at anything now," Trump said when asked by moderator Chris Wallace about the Republican candidate's recent comments about the election being "rigged" against him.
"If you look at your voter rolls, you will see millions of people who are registered to vote" who should not be, said Trump. He then went on to declare that he also considers the process rigged because Clinton "should not be allowed to run" because of the controversy surrounding her State Department emails.
Wallace followed up to Trump's response by referencing the "tradition" in the United States "of the peaceful transfer of power and that no matter how hard fought a campaign is at the end of the campaign that the loser concedes to the winner" and then the country "comes together for the good of the country" to move forward. He then asked, "Are you saying now you're not prepared to commit to that principle?"
"What I'm saying," Trump responded, "is that I will tell you at the time. I'll keep you in suspense."
At this point, Clinton interjected, "That's horrifying."
She continued, "Every time Donald thinks things are not going his direction, he claims whatever it is is rigged against him... This is a mindset. This is how Donald thinks. And it's funny, but it's also really troubling."
Watch the exchange:
Reaction on social media was immediate, with critics calling Trump's position "unprecedented" "dangerous" and "disqualifying" for a presidential candidate to hold:
\u201cJohn Adams accepted peaceful transfer of power in 1800. That's been the standard for 216 years. Now Trump says: "I'll keep you in suspense."\u201d— John Nichols (@John Nichols) 1476929687
\u201cBri WIlliams seems to call Trump refusing to say he would accept election results "disqualifying."\u201d— Greg Mitchell (@Greg Mitchell) 1476931121
\u201cOur headline. (Everyone's headline)\nhttps://t.co/0HFxZlOCJs\u201d— Rebecca Sinderbrand (@Rebecca Sinderbrand) 1476930693
\u201c#Trump refusing to accept the results of the election is breathtaking, unhinged, and utterly disqualifying. Shame. #debate #Hillary\u201d— Daylin Leach (@Daylin Leach) 1476933872
\u201cPeaceful transition of power makes USA great! #Trump refusal to accept result of election is unpresidential & disqualifying remark #debate\u201d— Linda Shafran (@Linda Shafran) 1476932478
\u201c#GOP's Steve Schmidt on #Trump's refusal to accept the results of the election: "A disqualifying moment.... It's unprecedented." #debate\u201d— Tony Varona - @TonyVarona@mastodon.sdf.org (@Tony Varona - @TonyVarona@mastodon.sdf.org) 1476932348
\u201cNicolle Wallace: "It is a disqualifying moment when you say you won't accept the results of an election." #Hardball #debatenight #debate\u201d— Michael LaRosa (@Michael LaRosa) 1476932063
\u201cWhole debate boils down to @realDonaldTrump saying he might not accept results of the election. It's dangerous & disqualifying. #debate\u201d— Eric Klinenberg (@Eric Klinenberg) 1476931821
Asked directly and repeatedly during Wednesday night's debate, Donald Trump refused to say whether or not he will accept the election day results if he loses to Hillary Clinton on November 8th.
"I will look at it at the time. I'm not looking at anything now," Trump said when asked by moderator Chris Wallace about the Republican candidate's recent comments about the election being "rigged" against him.
"If you look at your voter rolls, you will see millions of people who are registered to vote" who should not be, said Trump. He then went on to declare that he also considers the process rigged because Clinton "should not be allowed to run" because of the controversy surrounding her State Department emails.
Wallace followed up to Trump's response by referencing the "tradition" in the United States "of the peaceful transfer of power and that no matter how hard fought a campaign is at the end of the campaign that the loser concedes to the winner" and then the country "comes together for the good of the country" to move forward. He then asked, "Are you saying now you're not prepared to commit to that principle?"
"What I'm saying," Trump responded, "is that I will tell you at the time. I'll keep you in suspense."
At this point, Clinton interjected, "That's horrifying."
She continued, "Every time Donald thinks things are not going his direction, he claims whatever it is is rigged against him... This is a mindset. This is how Donald thinks. And it's funny, but it's also really troubling."
Watch the exchange:
Reaction on social media was immediate, with critics calling Trump's position "unprecedented" "dangerous" and "disqualifying" for a presidential candidate to hold:
\u201cJohn Adams accepted peaceful transfer of power in 1800. That's been the standard for 216 years. Now Trump says: "I'll keep you in suspense."\u201d— John Nichols (@John Nichols) 1476929687
\u201cBri WIlliams seems to call Trump refusing to say he would accept election results "disqualifying."\u201d— Greg Mitchell (@Greg Mitchell) 1476931121
\u201cOur headline. (Everyone's headline)\nhttps://t.co/0HFxZlOCJs\u201d— Rebecca Sinderbrand (@Rebecca Sinderbrand) 1476930693
\u201c#Trump refusing to accept the results of the election is breathtaking, unhinged, and utterly disqualifying. Shame. #debate #Hillary\u201d— Daylin Leach (@Daylin Leach) 1476933872
\u201cPeaceful transition of power makes USA great! #Trump refusal to accept result of election is unpresidential & disqualifying remark #debate\u201d— Linda Shafran (@Linda Shafran) 1476932478
\u201c#GOP's Steve Schmidt on #Trump's refusal to accept the results of the election: "A disqualifying moment.... It's unprecedented." #debate\u201d— Tony Varona - @TonyVarona@mastodon.sdf.org (@Tony Varona - @TonyVarona@mastodon.sdf.org) 1476932348
\u201cNicolle Wallace: "It is a disqualifying moment when you say you won't accept the results of an election." #Hardball #debatenight #debate\u201d— Michael LaRosa (@Michael LaRosa) 1476932063
\u201cWhole debate boils down to @realDonaldTrump saying he might not accept results of the election. It's dangerous & disqualifying. #debate\u201d— Eric Klinenberg (@Eric Klinenberg) 1476931821