"We're going to have to see what happens. You know that I have been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster. Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful — there won't be a transfer frankly. There'll be a continuation … And the ballots are out of control. You know it. And you know who knows it better than anybody else? The Democrats.”
– Donald Trump on September 23 refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power should he lose the election in November
Trump has repeatedly expressed doubt about the current election infrastructure, even though numerous studies have found voter fraud to be exceedingly rare in the U.S. He has waged a campaign against the unprecedented number of mail-in ballots expected this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, alleging that vote-by-mail is less secure than other forms of voting.
Trump has pushed a baseless theory that foreign actors are plotting to send in fake ballots, though his own intelligence community has found no evidence of such a plot. Trump has also suggested pushing back the election amid the coronavirus pandemic, though he has no authority to change its date.
(Matthew Choi. “Trump declines to commit to a peaceful transition of power after election.” Politico. September 23, 2020.)
September 23 was not the first time Trump raised doubts from pledging a smooth transition. Trump has similarly refused to commit to accepting the results of the November election, saying in July that he would “have to see” how things went. Then, he told Fox News' Chris Wallace …
“No, I’m not going to just say yes. I’m not going to say no, and I didn’t last time, either.”
The Biden campaign responded to Trump's remarks:
“The American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.”
Rep. Adam Schiff said …
“This is how democracy dies. A president so desperate to cling to power that he won’t commit to a peaceful transition of power. That he seeks to throw out millions of votes. And a Republican Party too craven to say a word. But we will fight back. America belongs to the people.”
Sen. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee expressed his dismay at the president’s briefing …
“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.”
What It Is
Far beyond campaign tricks and stunts, Trump's refusal to commit to a transition is unthinkable and autocratic. Both sides worry that should their candidate fail to win, the worst will befall the country. Though the rhetoric is heated, most Americans heading to the polls on Tuesday expect their votes to be counted, and a President to be elected without violence and insurrection. Peaceful transition of government is a hallmark of American democracy and United States history.
In the darkness of the early morning hours of 1801, President John Adams departed from Washington, refusing to attend the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson and quietly leaving his office after a humiliating defeat in the previous year's election. The precedent of a peaceful transfer of power has stood ever since – the loser of every presidential election in U.S. history has willingly and peacefully surrendered power to the winner, despite whatever personal animosity or political divisions might exist.
Historial Note:
Only the fourth presidential election in United States history, the Election of 1800 proved to be a new low in the young nation’s political tug-of-war for power. Whereas George Washington received unanimous votes each time, the election of 1796 had been the first true competition for seats in the federal government. John Adams, then vice president, received the most votes and won the presidency.
At the time, the system was designed to allow the runner up the position of vice president. One did not have to be of the same political party or even on the same ticket to be pitted with each other upon victory. Former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson won the second most votes, earning him the spot of vice president beneath his longtime political friend, Mr. Adams. However, their once strong friendship that grew from a firm partnership in seeing the Declaration of Independence ratified had recently shown signs of fracture. Throughout the Adams administration, Jefferson undermined his friend whom he increasingly became disillusioned with over policy choices. By the Election of 1800, a severe rift had formed between the two of them
In 1800, individual states scheduled elections at different times and although Jefferson and Burr ran on the same ticket, as president and vice president respectively, the Constitution still demanded votes for each individual to be counted separately. As a result, by the end of January 1801, Jefferson and Burr emerged tied at 73 electoral votes apiece. Adams came in third at 65 votes.
This unintended result sent the final vote to the House of Representatives. Sticklers in the Federalist-controlled House of Representatives insisted on following the Constitution’s flawed rules and refused to elect Jefferson and Burr together on the same ticket.
The highly influential Federalist Alexander Hamilton, who mistrusted Jefferson but hated Burr more, persuaded the House to vote against Burr, whom he called the most unfit man for the office of president. (This accusation and others led Burr to challenge Hamilton to a duel in 1804 that resulted in Hamilton’s death.) Two weeks before the scheduled inauguration, Jefferson emerged victorious and Burr was confirmed as his vice president.
A contingent of sword-bearing soldiers escorted the new president to his inauguration on March 4, 1801, illustrating the contentious nature of the election and the victors’ fear of reprisal. In his inaugural address, Jefferson sought to heal political differences by graciously declaring “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.”
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