Trump says he will respect US midterm results ‘if they’re honest’

President Donald Trump said on October 27 that he would respect the results of the upcoming US midterm elections ‘if they’re honest,’ according to AFP. He spoke to reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington before a campaign trip to Texas, a week before elections that will determine control of Congress.

Asked whether he would respect the results, Trump replied: ‘I will, if they’re honest elections.’ AFP reported that he has repeatedly made claims of mass voter fraud, which the news agency described as baseless. His answer did not identify a particular problem with the coming vote or explain how he would decide whether it was honest.

What Trump said about working with Democrats

The elections will decide control of both chambers of Congress and governorships in 36 states, The Guardian reported. Their outcome could affect the final two years of Trump’s term, including whether he faces a Congress controlled by the opposing party.

Texas campaign trip before the midterms

AFP reported that Trump has held near-daily rallies over the past month to increase turnout among his supporters. The Texas trip was his third in the state in a month, amid a close Senate race in a state the news agency described as solidly Republican for more than 30 years. The campaign activity forms the backdrop to his remarks about the election results and a possible change in congressional control.

Nearly 50 million people aged 18 to 29 are eligible to vote in the midterms, The Guardian reported, citing US Census Bureau data. The newspaper was seeking young voters’ views on the issues guiding their choices as the election approached.

AFP reported that some critics fear Trump could challenge the eventual results or seek emergency powers. Those are concerns about possible future actions, rather than steps he announced. His public answer made acceptance conditional on an honest election, without specifying what evidence he would use to judge the result.