According to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, President Donald Trump’s remarks on a peaceful transfer of power is another way for him to distract Americans from the real issues at hand.
During an interview with MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle, Biden explained he is more focused on the coronavirus pandemic than Trump’s position on leaving the White House if he is not reelected.
“The whole notion of him talking about this…is to take our eye off the ball,” Biden said.
He added, “Not to talk about what’s happening to the people dying of COVID, not talking about all the unemployment, not talking about him being unwilling to bring the Congress together, get off his golf course and out of a sand trap and have a meeting in the White House. I mean it’s always about distraction with him.”
Watch his comments below:
Joe Biden to @SRuhle on Trump not promising a peaceful transfer of power: "The whole notion of talking about this is to take our eye off the ball.
— AYMAN (@AymanMSNBC) September 25, 2020
Not to talk about what's happening to the people dying of covid.
Not talking about all the unemployment." pic.twitter.com/8U2OcLgcZi
During a press conference on Wednesday, a reporter asked Trump if he could commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election, as IJR previously reported.
“Well, we’re going to have to see what happens,” Trump said. “You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster.”
He continued, “Get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very peaceful … there won’t be a transfer, frankly, there’ll be a continuation. The ballots are out of control.”
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany insisted, “The president will accept the results of a free and fair election.”
Trump received harsh criticism from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) after he would not commit to a peaceful transfer of power.
“You are not in North Korea; you are not in Turkey; you are not in Russia, Mr. President…you are not in Saudi Arabia. You are in the United States of America. It is a democracy,” Pelosi said.
Trump said on Thursday he wants to make sure the election is fair, but he is not sure “that it can be.”