President Trump repeatedly refused to say on Wednesday whether he would commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the election to Joe Biden, saying at a press briefing, "We're going to have to see what happens."
The big picture: Trump has baselessly claimed on a number of occasions that the only way he will lose the election is if it's "rigged," claiming — without evidence — that mail-in ballots will result in widespread fraud. Earlier on Wednesday, the president said he wants to quickly confirm a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg because he believes the Supreme Court may have to decide the result of the election.
The exchange:
REPORTER: "Win, lose or draw in this election, will you commit here today for a peaceful transferral of power after the election? There has been rioting in Louisville, there has been rioting in many cities across this country. Your so-called red and blue states. Will you commit to making sure that there is a peaceful transferral of power after the election?"
TRUMP: "We're going to have to see what happens, you know that. I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster."
REPORTER: "I understand that, but people are rioting. Do you commit to making sure that there's a peaceful transferral of power?"
TRUMP: "Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful — there won't be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation. The ballots are out of control. You know it. And you know who knows it better than anybody else? The Democrats know it better than anybody else."
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