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Sep 24, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Kayleigh McEnany: Trump will accept "free and fair" election, no answer on if he loses

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White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday that President Trump will "accept the results of a free and fair election," but did not specify whether he will commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses to Joe Biden.

Why it matters: Trump refused to say on Wednesday whether he would commit to a peaceful transition of power, instead remarking, "we're going to have to see what happens."

The big picture: Trump told reporters on Wednesday he believes the Supreme Court may have to decide the results of the 2020 presidential election, as he has ramped up continued claims that mail-in voting will result in widespread voter fraud.

  • FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Thursday that the agency has "not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it's by mail or otherwise."

What she's saying:

REPORTER: "Are the results legitimate only if the president wins?"
McENANY: "The president will accept the results of a free and fair election. He will accept the will of the American people."
REPORTER: "So for clarity, if he loses, and it's free and fair, he will accept them?"
McENANY: "I've answered your question. He will accept the results of a free and fair election."

Outside the White House on Thursday, Trump told reporters: "We want to make sure the election is honest and I'm not sure that it can be. I don't know that it can be with this whole situation — unsolicited ballots," per pool reports.

  • "We have to be very careful with the ballots," he added.
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