Trump did not answer question about election results during debate.

In a crucial moment during Thursday evening’s presidential debate, CNN moderator Dana Bash posed a significant question to Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the 2024 election.

She asked, “Will you pledge tonight that, once all legal challenges have been exhausted, that you will accept the results of this election regardless of who wins, and that you will declare right now that political violence in any form is unacceptable?”

Trump initially responded by stating, “Well, I shouldn’t have to say that, but of course I believe that,” in reference to the question about political violence. However, his answer quickly turned into a series of criticisms aimed at President Joe Biden, particularly focusing on Biden’s foreign policy decisions.

Despite being pressed by Bash to directly address whether he would accept the election results, Trump continued to avoid the question. Bash then reiterated, “The question was: Will you accept the results of the election regardless of who wins?”

Once again, Trump diverted the topic to discuss Biden’s approach to the situation in Ukraine. It was only after being asked a third time that Trump finally responded directly to Bash’s question, saying, “If it’s a fair and legal and good election, absolutely. I would have much rather accepted these, but the fraud and everything else was ridiculous.”

Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the 2020 election played a significant role in inciting the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Presently, he is facing both state and federal indictments for allegedly interfering in the last presidential election against Biden.

During the debate, Biden confronted Trump about his refusal to accept defeat in the previous election, stating, “I doubt you’ll accept it because you’re a whiner. Something snapped in you when you lost last time.”

Earlier in the evening, Trump defended the individuals involved in the January 6th riot and criticized Biden for how the Department of Justice handled the prosecution of those who participated in the Capitol siege.

The debate highlighted the ongoing tensions and divisions within American politics, underscoring the need for a peaceful and respectful transfer of power following elections.