Former Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole encouraged President Trump to accept his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
Dole, the former Senate majority leader who lost the presidential contest to Bill Clinton in 1996, told the Kansas City Star that though he believes the president may never concede, it’s vital Trump understands he will be exiting the White House next month.
“The election is over, and Biden will be president on Jan. 20,” Dole, 97, said. “I know the president has not conceded, and he may never concede, but he will not be in the White House on Jan. 21. It’s a pretty bitter pill for Trump, but it’s a fact he lost. It’ll take him a while to accept that.”
Dole is among a growing number of Republicans who have openly acknowledged Biden’s victory in the election, especially after electors certified their votes in favor of the Democrat this week.
On Tuesday, current Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged Biden as the president-elect for the first time since media outlets called the election for the former vice president last month.
“The Electoral College has spoken,” McConnell said, congratulating Biden on his victory while speaking from the Senate floor.
Trump has yet to concede to Biden, and his legal team is determined to continue its legal battles into the new year. Though the team has lost a number of court battles, Trump and his allies remain mired in litigation in a handful of states where they allege voter fraud took place.
Inauguration Day is scheduled for Jan. 20.
