Donald Trump changed his mind concerning the validity of election results on Thursday, saying he will accept the outcome of the Nov. 8 election … if he wins.
After shocking the world by refusing to promise that he would accept the results of the election during Wednesday’s final presidential debate, Trump told supporters at a rally in Delaware, Ohio, that he had second thoughts.
“I would like to promise and pledge to all of my voters and supporters and to all of the people of the United States that I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election … if I win,” Trump said.
The GOP nominee even paused for dramatic effect before delivering the “If I win” punch line.
JUST IN: Donald Trump: "I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election if I win" https://t.co/VgPSCB9bCG
— ABC News (@ABC) October 20, 2016
Asked by Fox News moderator Chris Wallace on Wednesday whether he would accept the result of the election, Trump said, “I will look at it at the time.”
“What I’m saying is that I will tell you at the time. I’ll keep you in suspense,” he continued.
Trump’s comments directly contradicted what he said during the first presidential debate, when he told NBC’s Lester Holt that he “absolutely” would accept the results of the election.
But Trump has intensified his claims in recent days, suggesting a vast conspiracy between the news media and the Democratic Party to deny him the presidency.
Following the debate, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway walked away from CNN’s Dana Bash in the middle of an interview regarding the topic.