With the November election less than a month away, President Donald Trump has refused to say whether or not he'd accept the results of the 2020 election if he loses.
Trump, who is favored to lose the election by nearly every measure, said that the only way Democratic nominee Joe Biden could defeat him is if the election is rigged. He's also said that he believes the election would be decided by the Supreme Court instead of the voters.
The peaceful transfer of power between presidents is a key ingredient to the longevity of American democracy, but Trump has signaled it's a sacred process that he's willing to break.
Conservative network Fox News is already attempting to soften the fallout of the unprecedented move by blaming Trump's predecessor, former President Barack Obama.
Watch below.
The hosts of Fox & Friends were minimizing Russia's efforts to assist Donald Trump in the 2016 election, highlighting intelligence memos that they falsely implied proved Russian election interference was a political maneuver by then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Cohost Ainsley Earhardt then said that the Obama administration's investigation into this interference was tantamount to a refusal of a peaceful transfer.
Earhardt said:
"We keep hearing everyone say peaceful transition of power. And that's what's supposed to happen from one president to the next. But that's not at all what happened, according to these documents. There was so much chaos, and you hear from the Democrats we need peaceful transition. And they did not allow that to happen in 2016 and 2017."
Soon, Trump was parroting the talking point himself.
NOW THAT THE RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRATS GOT CAUGHT COLD IN THE (NON) FRIENDLY TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT, IN FACT, THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN AND WENT FOR A COUP, WE ARE ENTITLED TO ASK THE VOTERS FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. PLEASE REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU VOTE! https://t.co/gsFSghkmdM
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020
On Inauguration Day in January of 2017, the Obamas welcomed then-President elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the White House, attended his inauguration, and vacated the premises under a new President, continuing a peaceful transfer of power that's endured for centuries in the United States.
Earhardt was lying.
They are always following the dictum of accusing the other side (for they are clearly on the side of Trump) of that which you are doing. Or, in this case, what you are planning to do.
— kenmaready (@kenmaready) October 7, 2020
Always projection.
— BDAinVA (@BDAinVA) October 7, 2020
These propagandists should be off the air. How can this BS be justified.
— Constant Truth (@4Truth2p71) October 7, 2020
The seed has been planted into the soft easily malleable heads of morons, it will take root.
— Todd Southgate (@ToddSouthgate) October 7, 2020
accuse the other side of that which you are guilty....
— zipthwung💀💩 (@zipthwung) October 7, 2020
Fox had done as much damage to this country as Mitch McConnell. No excuse for stupid any longer...
— Jennifer Bills (@JJBills14) October 7, 2020
Meanwhile, the fear of Trump breaking with over two centuries of precedent is still very real.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to reject the results of the election, has suggested throwing out some mail-in ballots, and has even refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power.
He'll stop at nothing to cling to power.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) September 30, 2020
If you think Trump is doing this alone:
5 Republicans voted AGAINST a resolution committing to a peaceful transfer of power. https://t.co/vFdkcKHLLb
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) September 30, 2020
Chris Wallace to Trump: Do you support a peaceful transfer of power?
Trump: #Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/e7tq6pWywG
— Brad Johnson (@climatebrad) September 30, 2020
The presidential election is on November third.
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@sadcommunistdog; @froglok/Bluesky