Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) is offering his thoughts after the president would not commit to a peaceful transfer of power after the election if he loses.
The Utah senator, who has criticized President Donald Trump previously, called it “both unthinkable and unacceptable” for any president to “not respect this Constitutional guarantee.”
“Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus,” Romney tweeted Wednesday evening, adding, “Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable.”
Romney did not specifically mention Trump in his tweet.
Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) September 24, 2020
Trump was asked by a reporter during Wednesday’s press conference, “Win, lose, or draw in this election, will you commit here today for a peaceful transferral of power after the election?…Will you commit to making sure that there is a peaceful transferral of power after the election?”
However, the president responded, saying, “Well, we’re going to have to see what happens.”
He continued, “You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster.”
When pressed again if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses, Trump responded, “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.”
Trump seemingly referred to mail-in ballots, which he has repeatedly slammed, claiming without evidence that it leads to widespread voter fraud.
See Trump’s comments below:
JUST IN: Asked if he'd "commit to making sure that there is a peaceful transferral of power after the election," Pres. Trump says, "Well, we're going to have to see what happens." https://t.co/BURjYQhYGU pic.twitter.com/3sRTVIlsh3
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 23, 2020
Romney was not the only one who weighed in on Trump’s remarks at Wednesday’s press conference.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tweeted, “President Trump: You are not a dictator, and America will not permit you to be one.”