Trump’s former national security adviser says president ‘will not leave graciously if he loses’

https://news.yahoo.com/trump-former-national-security-adviser-134157962.html

Chris Riotta
,The Independent•October 19, 2020

Donald Trump’s former national security adviser has warned the president “will not leave graciously if he loses” in his re-election bid against Joe Biden, saying in a new interview: “Whether he carries it to the extreme, I don’t think we know.”

John Bolton, who served as national security adviser from April 2018 to September 2019, told CNN’s Jake Tapper another four years of a Trump presidency could cause “irreparable injury” to the nation — while suggesting the president was preparing to contest the results of the November vote, should Mr Biden secure a victory.

“Let’s be clear: Trump will not leave graciously if he loses,” Mr Bolton said, adding: “He will not leave graciously.”

The former national security adviser said the president’s recent comments and unfounded claims about mail-in voter fraud were “very troubling,” telling the network: “Whether he carries it to the extreme, I don’t think we know.”

Mr Bolton, a longtime conservative who has worked in previous administrations, told CNN he does not intend to vote for Mr Trump or Mr Biden.

“It is very troubling that he has said, ‘I can’t lose unless there’s fraud,’” Mr Bolton said. “Of course, he can lose in an honest election. And I think this is really on the leadership of the Republican Party, elected officials, private citizens. If it is clear what the outcome is, it is up to Republicans, not Democrats, to say, ‘This is on us. He has to go.'”

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