With Democratic nominee Joe Biden dwarfing him in 2020 election polls, President Donald Trump is continuing a campaign to discredit expanded voting by mail efforts in the face of the pandemic.
Trump frequently claims that voting by mail presents enough opportunity for voting fraud to tip an election, though evidence does not support this.
Americans across the country are concerned that Trump is setting the stage to deem the 2020 election illegitimate should he lose to Biden.
In a recent Fox News interview with anchor Chris Wallace, the President refused to say whether or not he'd accept the results of the 2020 election. The answer struck a similar chord to one he gave Wallace in the 2016 election when asked if he'd concede to then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton if he lost.
Watch below.
TRUMP: "I think mail-in voting is going to rig the election."
WALLACE: "Are you suggesting that you might not accept the results?"
TRUMP: "I have to see."
WALLACE: "Can you give a direct answer that you will accept the election?
TRUMP: "I have to see." pic.twitter.com/mPDPLY9vsr
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 19, 2020
Trump falsely claimed that Clinton never accepted the results of the 2016 election.
Wallace asked:
"Can you give a direct answer? You will accept the election?"
Trump responded:
"I have to see. Look, I have to see. I'm not gonna just say yes. I didn't last time either."
It wasn't long before the Biden campaign responded to Trump's non-answer, assuring that if Trump lost the election, he would be escorted out by government officials as a "trespasser."
The campaign said:
"The American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House."
While Trump may not have given an answer as to whether he'd admit defeat, others seemed to have a good idea of his intentions.
@atrupar We’re about to face a test of our democracy, the likes of which I never imagined. The Founders, despite th… https://t.co/IbAcmbDtY4— Susan Pick Kamala Harris Becraft (@Susan Pick Kamala Harris Becraft) 1595238229.0
@atrupar This has been coming since he took office. We haven’t seen anything yet...total Chaos will ensue with Barr… https://t.co/MbwowGN0Jr— Kathryn (@Kathryn) 1595245144.0
@atrupar “I have to see” means if he loses....no, he will not accept the results.— PJ Johnson (@PJ Johnson) 1595216164.0
@atrupar He will reject any result which does not favour him. That is what narcissists do!!— LouiseS (@LouiseS) 1595230778.0
@atrupar He won't accept loss. He'll claim fraud, file lawsuits, and do everything he can to void the election. Do we really need to ask?— Ron Paolillo (@Ron Paolillo) 1595214081.0
People were on board with Biden's response.
@walterdellinger @TheNakedParty Yes, yes and more yeses. The only problem will be who will do it, I'm pretty sure t… https://t.co/nSO5b2PhLE— April Green (@April Green) 1595247274.0
@walterdellinger @gtconway3d I wish I could retweet this 1,000 times.— Phyllis Buerstatte (@Phyllis Buerstatte) 1595236683.0
@walterdellinger It’s the People’s House and I’ll help escorting him out!!— Eddie (@Eddie) 1595248841.0
@walterdellinger Excellent plan!— Mary E Brown (@Mary E Brown) 1595251550.0
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) assured that the White House is a building, not the Presidency itself. Therefore, even if Trump does lose and refuses to vacate, Biden will still be sworn in as President.