Trump Says He'll Accept the Election Results—'If I Win'

Donald Trump said a day after the third debate that he'll accept the election results... "if I win."

Donald Trump at a rally.
USA Today Sports

Image via USA TODAY Sports/Jim Matthews

Donald Trump at a rally.

In last night's debate, Donald Trump wouldn't commit to accepting the results of the election. When pressed, Trump simply said, "I will tell you at the time. I'll keep you in suspense, OK?"

Today, the Republican nominee is doubling down on his comments from last night.

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

At a rally in Ohio, Donald Trump told the crowd he wanted to "make a major announcement today." And what was the announcement? "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."

He paused and then dropped the kicker: "If I win."

The crowd at the rally erupted in applause, but not everybody was as excited about Trump's comments:

Thing that just happened:

TRUMP: I will respect the results of this election!

Newsroom: GASP!

TRUMP: IF I WIN

Newsroom: ...omfg

— Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) October 20, 2016

Trump followed up and explained, "Of course, I would accept a clear election result, but I would also reserve my right to contest or file a legal challenge in the case of a questionable result."

Following Donald Trump's lead, many Americans believe the presidential election might be rigged. During the debate when Trump wouldn't agree to accept the election results, Hillary Clinton called his answer "horrifying," especially considering that America has had over 200 years of peaceful transitions of power. 

According to Politico, other Republicans are even slamming Trump's conspiracy theory, including Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Maine Gov. Paul LePage, and Sens. Jeff Flake and John McCain of Arizona. On Twitter, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina wrote, "Mr. Trump is doing the party and the country a great disservice by continuing to suggest the outcome of this election is out of his hands and ‘rigged’ against him." He continued to tell Trump how it is, saying, "If he loses, it will not be because the system is ‘rigged,’ but because he failed as a candidate."

My thoughts on a 'rigged' presidential election. pic.twitter.com/075n83NXMH

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 20, 2016

Of course, Twitter had a few jokes about Trump's comment:

I will accept the lottery results if I win.

— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) October 20, 2016

I will totally accept the results of the NLCS as long as the Cubs lose. #nevercubs

— Reid J. Epstein (@reidepstein) October 20, 2016

I will totally accept the legitimacy of next week's New York Times best-seller list - if I'm on it.

— Julia Dahl (@juliadahl) October 20, 2016

Despite his concerns that the election is rigged, Trump's still confident. Politico reported Trump told the rally, "We're gonna win. We're gonna win. We're gonna win so badly. We're gonna win so badly. November 8, we're going to win." 

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