Trump Adds Condition "If the Election Is Fair" When Asked About Conceding Defeat

[US Election 2024]

Donald Trump, the former president and Republican presidential candidate in the United States, reaffirmed his stance on the 5th (local time), the election day, that he would concede if asked whether he would accept the results in case of defeat, saying "if it is a fair election." This is analyzed as leaving open the possibility of contesting the election this year, while not acknowledging the results of the 2020 presidential election.

[Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

On the morning of the day, former President Trump, along with Melania, voted at a polling station set up at the Morton Mendel Recreation Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, and made this statement. Wearing a red hat emblazoned with the slogan of his election campaign, "Make America Great Again," Trump evaluated, "It seems we have a significant lead."

He emphasized, "Today we will achieve a big victory," and "We ran a great campaign. This was the best campaign." He continued, "I did great in the first election (2016), and did much better in the second election (2020), but something happened," asserting that his defeat was due to election fraud. He also added a caveat that he is prepared to accept defeat "if it is a fair election." This is a remark implying the possibility of contesting the election results.

In particular, former President Trump expressed dissatisfaction despite concerns that those who do not accept the election results might incite riots like the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. When asked if he would urge his supporters to refrain from violence, he replied, "There is no need to say that," and added, "Of course, there will be no violence. My supporters are not violent people."

On this day, former President Trump also repeated criticism of electronic voting machines. He claimed that electronic voting machines are less secure than paper ballots and that counting takes time. He said, "We are spending all this money on machines," and added, "If we use paper ballots, ID cards, and citizenship certificates, the counting will be finished by 10 p.m." He further said, "Did you know that paper has become more sophisticated than computers?" and added, "If it is paper with a watermark, there is no way to deceive what happens."

Regarding the key issues of this election, he said, "Many people say inflation is a disaster, but I think the top priority issue is the border problem," and added, "We cannot allow criminals to enter our country."

Former President Trump is expected to watch the vote count with acquaintances at his private resort, Mar-a-Lago, in Florida on this day. Afterwards, he is expected to appear at a nearby convention center where thousands of supporters, led by the Trump campaign, will watch the vote count together.