Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said there will be a peaceful transition of power regardless of who wins the November election.
After President Trump refused to make such a commitment in response to a reporter’s question on Wednesday, the Kentucky Republican became the highest-ranking Republican to assure the public that there will be no underhanded scheme to undermine the vote.
“The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792,” the GOP leader said in a Thursday morning tweet.
The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) September 24, 2020
Trump was asked whether he would commit during Wednesday’s press briefing. He raised concerns about the potential for fraud with mail-in ballots.
“We’re going to have to see what happens. You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster,” Trump said, and after pushback from the reporter, added, “Get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very peaceful — there won’t be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation.”
Other Republicans, including Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the third-ranking Republican in the House, chided Trump for the comment, but like McConnell, none of them invoked the president’s name. Trump is facing former Vice President Joe Biden in the presidential contest.
