President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he will accept the upcoming midterm election results only if he considers them “honest.” It is a conditional commitment that renews questions about whether he will respect the outcome should Republicans lose control of Congress.
How Donald Trump’s 2016, 2020, and 2024 election remarks compare
A reporter asked Donald Trump whether he would “respect the results, whatever happens.” He answered, “I will if they’re honest elections.” The exchange happened before he left for Texas to headline two rallies for Republican candidates.
The president also addressed how he would govern if Democrats get the House or Senate. “We’ll figure a way,” he said, citing his “strong” veto power. Trump added, “I hope that won’t be the case, but if it is, that has happened before with many presidents. You have strong veto, and you end up working out deals.”
The president’s phrasing tracks closely with language he used before earlier votes. In May 2024, Trump told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “If everything’s honest, I’d gladly accept the results,” then cautioned, “If it’s not, you have to fight for the right of the country.” He won that race. In 2020, he said he would “have to see” the results before accepting them, ultimately refused to concede to Joe Biden, and pursued dozens of lawsuits.
This year, Trump has already pushed the Justice Department to sue to block certification of a competitive Alaska Senate race should Sen. Dan Sullivan lose. He argued that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., an unaffiliated candidate on the ballot, could draw votes from the GOP incumbent.
Moreover, the campaign climate reflects that rhetoric. A Washington Post analysis published on Tuesday found nearly 600 prominent right-wing social media accounts, podcasts, and outlets have issued more than 7,000 statements questioning midterm integrity.
A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll found 70% of Americans lack confidence that Trump would accept the results if his party loses, while 28% said they were confident. More than 33 million ballots have already been cast early, in person or by mail.
