GOP lawmakers were quick to slam Donald Trump’s refusal during Wednesday’s debate to say he would accept the results of the presidential election.
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) both took to Twitter to scold Trump for his comments.
“.@realDonaldTrump saying that he might not accept election results is beyond the pale,” tweeted Flake.
{mosads}And Graham tweeted a statement saying that if Trump loses, he will have no one to blame but himself.
“Like most Americans, I have confidence in our democracy and election system. During the debate, Mr. Trump is doing the party and our country a great disservice by continuing to suggest the outcome of this election is out of his hands and ‘rigged’ against him,” he said. “If he loses, it will not be because the system is ‘rigged’ but because he failed as a candidate.”
Both Graham and Flake have repeatedly criticized Trump as a candidate, and neither supports him as the GOP nominee.
Trump said in this fall’s first debate he would support Hillary Clinton if she won the election. But just a few weeks later, after Clinton’s lead over Trump grew wider, he said that was now an open question. At recent rallies, Trump has pushed the idea that the election could be rigged against him.
“I will look at it at the time. I’m not looking at anything now,” he said when asked whether he would honor the results.