Lauren Fox contributed reporting.
Following the final presidential debate on Wednesday night, conservatives shook their heads at Donald Trump’s refusal to commit to accepting the November election results.
On MSNBC, conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt said Trump “hit himself in the head and knocked himself out” with his answer on accepting election results.
“It is outside the norm of American political rhetoric to express a contingent acceptance of the result,” Hewitt said. “He might have phrased it in a way that said, if there is a state that is contested by a small number of votes, I will, like Al Gore, contest that state. But he didn’t say that. The contingent nature of his commitment to the results is unsettling to many people.”
Fox News commentator Brit Hume said following the debate that Trump “stepped on it by refusing to say he’d accept the results.”
“The headline out of this debate, as far as I can tell, is his refusal to say he would accept the results of the election. That doesn’t happen usually in America,” Hume said on Fox News. “It’s newsworthy, it’s controversial, it’s a big deal. And so the question is, is that something that’s going to help him? I doubt it.”
When asked about Trump’s response on accepting the results of the election, Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer, said that the RNC would accept the election results.
“I don’t speak for him, he speaks for himself,” Spicer said. “I think we’re gonna win this election and it won’t be an issue.”
Two Republican senators, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, as well as Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), quickly condemned Trump’s failure to say he would accept the results of the election.
.@realDonaldTrump saying that he might not accept election results is beyond the pale
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) October 20, 2016
My thoughts on a ‘rigged’ presidential election. pic.twitter.com/075n83NXMH
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 20, 2016
Peaceful transfer of power & acceptance of election results is fundamental to our democracy & Constitution. This cannot be undermined ever.
— Carlos Curbelo (@carloslcurbelo) October 20, 2016
And several conservatives lamented Trump’s answer and noted following the debate that Trump hurt himself by failing to commit to accepting the results of the election.
Laura Ingraham:
He should have said he would accept the results of the election. There is no other option unless we’re in a recount again.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) October 20, 2016
The Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol:
I deplore what Trump said and refused to say about accepting the election results. Confirms one’s judgment he shouldn’t be president. 1/
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) October 20, 2016
But let’s not invest him with too much stature or importance. In a way, who cares what he thinks about the election results? Who cares 2/
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) October 20, 2016
…what he decides after he waits and sees whatever he sees? The election officials certify the election results. Citizens accept them. 3/
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) October 20, 2016
And the right thing to say to Donald Trump now is, Fine, you can go jump in a lake on election night instead of graciously conceding… 4/
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) October 20, 2016
But we Americans will accept the judgment of our fellow citizens, as we always have. And we won’t let you–a fluke and losing nominee– 5/
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) October 20, 2016
Daily Wire editor Ben Shapiro:
Trump’s answer on “rigging” will the the takeaway moment. He absolutely blew it. https://t.co/8QRnWjQpUa
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 20, 2016
Commentary editor Noah Rothman:
Even Trump supporters know he stepped on a landmine by refusing to legitimize the election results. That’s the headline.
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) October 20, 2016
Townhall’s Guy Benson:
Wallace excellent.
HRC sharp & prepared, dishonest & tendentious.
DJT uneven, under-informed. Refusal to accept results v bad. #debate
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) October 20, 2016
National Review’s Jonah Goldberg:
Whatever good he did for himself, the “I’ll look at it at the time” answer almost guarantees he’ll get no other message out now until 11/8.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) October 20, 2016
