Trump won’t commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses
Congressional leaders, Republican and Democrat, push back against US President, vow orderly transition
Washington, Sept. 24: Congressional leaders from both US parties, including Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, swiftly pushed back on Thursday after President Donald Trump declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the November 3 presidential election.
Mr Trump said during a Wednesday press conference: “We’re going to have to see what happens” in response to a question about committing to the results. “You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster.”
Senator McConnell and other Republican Party leaders had no hesitation in committing to an orderly transfer if Mr Trump loses. “The winner of the November 3 election will be inaugurated on January 20th,” Senator McConnell tweeted. “There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792.”
Ms Pelosi, a Democrat, said it was “very sad” the President of the United States was even raising this question. “What would our founders think?” she asked. “Calm down, Mr President,” Ms Pelosi said.
She said she has confidence in American voters to cast their votes and choose the President. “It would not be a good thing for our country, for our election to be ignored by the President,” she said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally and Senate Judiciary Committee chair, told “Fox & Friends” on Thursday: “If Republicans lose, we will accept the result. If the Supreme Court rules in favour of Joe Biden, I will accept that result.”
It is highly unusual that a sitting President would express less than complete confidence in the American democracy’s electoral process. But Mr Trump also declined four years ago to commit to honouring the results if his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton won.
Joe Biden, his 2020 Democratic challenger, asked incredulously: “What country are we in?” He added: “I don’t know what to say… but it doesn’t surprise me.”