Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) offered a cautious response when asked if he would certify a victory for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, seemingly catering to former President Donald Trump and his fervent supporters while hinting at the potential for chaos should rump face defeat.
Trump has been laying the groundwork to contest the election results if he loses, raising concerns about the GOP’s commitment to a peaceful transfer of power. In a recent Truth Social post, he accused Democrats of trying to manipulate overseas voting, alleging a lack of citizenship verification.
With the election approaching, many Republicans have been questioned about their readiness to accept the results. These inquiries stem from Trump’s continued refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of the 2020 election and the subsequent January 6 Capitol unrest.
During a press conference, Johnson stated he would certify the election results if the election were deemed “fair.”
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“Well, of course. If we have a free, fair, and safe election, we’re gonna follow the Constitution, absolutely yes,” he remarked. However, he did not clarify what he considered to be “free, fair, and safe,” leaving room for speculation and concern about how his definitions might align with Trump’s narratives.
This hesitance to clearly commit to certifying election results reveals an underlying uncertainty within the GOP. By not fully endorsing the principle of a peaceful transfer of power, Johnson’s comments seem crafted to resonate with Trump’s base. However, this approach raises concerns about potential unrest should Trump lose, mirroring the turbulence that followed the 2020 election.
See the exchange in the clip below:
.@PabloReports: Mr Speaker, do you commit to observing regular order in the certification process of the 2024 election, even if Harris beats Trump?
MIKE JOHNSON: Well of course — if we have a free, fair, and safe election we're gonna follow the Constitution, absolutely pic.twitter.com/IsASJnIyYD
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 24, 2024
