Internet shreds Trump as he says he'll accept 2024 results if they're 'fair and legal' in first presidential debate

In the first presidential debate for the 2024 election, Donald Trump stated he would accept the results if the election is deemed 'fair and legal'
UPDATED JUN 28, 2024
Donald Trump initially dodged questions on whether he would accept the results of the November elections (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Donald Trump initially dodged questions on whether he would accept the results of the November elections (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Former President Donald Trump admitted he would accept the 2024 presidential election results only if it is a "fair and legal and good election" before doubling down on the allegations of election fraud when he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020.

Trump and Biden came face to face for the first time since the 2024 election year kickstarted engaging in their first presidential debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, June 27.

The 45th president initially dodged questions on whether he would accept the results of the November elections. He refused to give a direct answer to CNN debate moderator Dana Bash, but when she pressed for a third time, the real estate moguls said, "If it's a fair and legal and good election, absolutely," according to NBC News.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump (L) looks at U.S. President Joe Biden during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. The debate is the first of two scheduled between the two candidates before the November election. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden had a fiery face-off in the first presidential debate by CNN on June 27 in Atlanta, Georgia (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Trump reiterates election fraud claims after emphasizing his criteria to accept 2024 election results

The MAGA spearhead did not refrain from repeating his argument that the 2020 election was rigged during the CNN debate, where he clashed with Biden on numerous issues, including the border crisis, abortion, and inflation.

"I would have much rather accepted these, but the fraud and everything else was ridiculous — and if you want, we'll have a news conference on it in a week, or we'll have another one of these in a week," Trump said suggesting another debate with his 81-year-old successor.



 

However, the former president did not reveal any specific criteria on which he would accept the presidential election outcome.

Trump's refusal to concede his defeat four years ago and his discredited arguments of the 2020 election being rigged raised concerns about how he would respond if he loses in November.

In an interview with The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in May, the Republican presumptive nominee echoed the same stance, asserting he would accept the results if "everything's honest" but would "fight for the right of the country" if they were not.

Trump faces two indictments in Georgia and Washington DC, for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in his favor including allegedly instigating his supporters to attack the Capitol on January 6, 2021, to prevent certification of Biden's victory.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 6: Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol on
Donald Trump faced an indictment for allegedly instigating the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021 (Getty Images)

Both candidates seeking a second term in the White House are scheduled to face each other once again on the debate stage hosted by ABC News on September 10.

Internet doubts Trump will accept 2024 election results

Skeptical over Trump's claim to accept the election results if it was "fair" and "legal," netizens suggested the former presidents would not concede another defeat.

"This man cannot be trusted," a user said.

"He will never accept he lost a second time And yet he will lose again," another remarked.



 



 

"In other words, it’s a hard NO from Trump. He wouldn’t know a fair/legal election if his life depended on it," added a third user.

"He said the same thing about the 2020 election - look what he lied about then," read a fourth response.

"That 'IF' is the giveaway. He will not accept a loss. Because the determination of whether the election was 'fair, legal, and good' will be disputed," another person wrote.



 



 



 

"What makes you think that Trump will accept the election results and not incite violence?" someone else asked.

"The point should be that Trump doesn’t get to decide if the election is fair. We have many people that make those determinations. Part of democracy is to create a fair system & trust the process even if we disagree with the outcome. Trump basically said trust only if he wins," an individual added.

"And by “fair and legal and good election” he means he wins otherwise no," another user chimed in.



 



 



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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