Donald Trump has declined to clearly state whether he will accept the results of the upcoming US presidential election in November.
During his first debate with President Joe Biden on Thursday, the former president was asked three times if he would accept the outcome “regardless of who wins.” He finally responded, “If it’s a fair and legal and good election, absolutely.”
Mr. Trump lost his bid for a second presidential term to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Since then, he has consistently claimed the vote was rigged against him, without providing evidence.
In Thursday night’s debate, Mr. Trump reiterated these claims and downplayed his involvement in the January 6th Capitol Hill riot.
Mr. Biden, whose stumbling performance caused concern among Democrats, accused Mr. Trump of “continuing to promote this lie” that the election was “stolen” from him.
The highly anticipated debate, hosted by CNN in Atlanta, saw Mr. Trump remain largely composed and focused, while his opponent struggled to maintain his train of thought and sometimes finish his sentences clearly.
CNN moderator Dana Bash had to repeatedly ask Mr. Trump if he would accept the election results. The first time, he evaded the question by saying he wanted a fair and free election “more than anybody.”
The second time, he ignored the question and instead talked about the war in Ukraine, claiming that Vladimir Putin would never have invaded if he were president because “I got along with him very well… he knew not to play games.”
The third time he was asked to answer “yes or no,” Mr. Trump finally stated that he “absolutely” would accept the outcome if the election was “fair and legal and good.”
He then mentioned the “ridiculous” fraud in the last election. Mr. Trump’s repeated claims about the 2020 vote are linked to criminal charges he is currently facing, as federal prosecutors allege he pressured officials to overturn the results and knowingly spread lies about election fraud.
Mr. Trump also said it would be easier for him to simply accept the results rather than run for president again.
“I doubt whether you’ll accept it because you’re such a whiner,” Joe Biden quipped. “You can’t stand the loss. Something snapped in you when you lost last time.”
Mr Trump made several assertions during the debate that either have no evidence or are factually wrong.
On abortion, Mr Trump turned to what he called Democratic extremism – that the party wants to “take the life of the baby in the ninth month and even after birth”. He even got graphic when he said they want to “rip the baby out of the womb.”
“That is simply not true,” Mr Biden retorted.
Mr Trump’s comment stems from a popular falsehood with anti-abortion activists that Democrats are in favour of a policy that allows abortions right up to birth.
When the debate turned to the 6 January riot, Mr Trump dodged the question on what he would say to voters who are worried about his actions and inactions on that day, and that he might do it again.
Instead, he tried to turn the focus to Mr Biden, saying the US went from being respected “all over the world” to a laughing stock when the Democrat became president.
Mr Trump insisted that he told protesters to be “peacefully patriotic”.
“What they’ve done to some people that are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself,” he said to Mr Biden, who criticised him for refusing to denounce the rioters.
Mr. Trump has pledged to pardon “many” of those convicted of offenses related to the Capitol riot, referring to them as “January 6th hostages.”
He also blamed the chaos on Nancy Pelosi, who was House Speaker at the time, claiming he offered her 10,000 National Guard soldiers, but she “turned them down.”
There is no evidence to support that this offer was ever made, according to the Select Committee that investigated the insurrection.
This claim was also refuted by Mr. Trump’s acting secretary of defense, Christopher Miller. Additionally, even if such an offer had been made, Mrs. Pelosi would not have had the authority to accept it in her position.