Republican leader promises 'orderly' transition of power as Donald Trump continues to sow doubt
Republican leader Mitch McConnell has promised an "orderly transition" of power after Donald Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer if he loses the presidential election.
When asked a question about committing to the results of the November 3 election, Mr Trump said that this week: "We're going to have to see what happens".
The US President has baselessly claimed widespread mail voting would lead to massive fraud, despite the five states that routinely send mail ballots to all voters having seen no significant fraud.
He told reporters on Wednesday: "You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster."
Mr Trump also took to Twitter to claim: "Democrats are Rigging our 2020 Election!" as he shared a clip of a Fox News interview about mail-in voting.
Top US senator Mitch McConnell and other senior figures in Mr Trump’s Republican Party said they had no hesitation in committing to an orderly transfer if Mr Trump loses.
Mr McConnell responded in a tweet: “The winner of the November 3 election will be inaugurated on January 20.
“There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792.”
The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr)
Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was “very sad” the president of the US was even raising this question.
She asked: “What would our founders think? Calm down, Mr President.”
Ms Pelosi reminded Mr Trump the US is not North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia or other countries with strongman leaders he openly admires.
“You are in the United States of America, it is a democracy,” she said. “So why don’t you just try for a moment to honour our oath of office to the constitution of the United States?”
The House Speaker added that she has confidence in American voters to cast their votes and choose the president.
Few Republican politicians came to the president’s defence.
Instead Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of Mr Trump and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, 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.”
Congresswoman Liz Cheney, of Wyoming, a member of the House GOP leadership, tweeted: “The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic.
“America’s leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath.”
The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. America’s leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney)
Long-time senator Richard Shelby, of Alabama, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, added: “Well, we’ve always had a peaceful transfer of power. That’s one of the hallmarks. And I think this year will be no exception.”
Mr Trump also declined four years ago to commit to honouring the election results if his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, won.
Joe Biden, his current Democratic challenger, was asked about Trump’s comment after landing in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday night.
“What country are we in?” Mr Biden asked incredulously, adding: “I’m being facetious. Look, he says the most irrational things.
“I don’t know what to say about it. But it doesn’t surprise me.”
Mr Trump has been pressing a months-long campaign against mail-in voting this November by tweeting and speaking out critically about the practice.
More states are encouraging mail-in voting to keep voters safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
The president, who uses mail-in voting himself, has tried to distinguish between states that automatically send mail ballots to all registered voters and those, like Florida, that send them only to voters who request a mail ballot.
Ohio Congressman Steve Stivers, a former chairman of the House Republican campaign arm, tweeted: “Regardless of how divided our country is right now, when elections are over and winners are declared, we must all commit ourselves to the constitution and accept the results.”
Senator Mitt Romney, one of the lone GOP voices to cross Mr Trump, referred to an electoral crisis in Europe, tweeting: “Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus.
“Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable.”
Additional reporting by Associated Press.
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