Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), during an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker, repeatedly avoided committing to accepting the results of the 2024 election. This came after former President Donald Trump, a leading Republican contender, refused to make that commitment earlier in the week.
In the interview on Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” Welker pressed Scott on his stance. She began by asking Scott, who voted to certify the 2020 election results, about Trump’s comments suggesting he might not accept the 2024 results.
Welker asked, “You voted to certify the election results of 2020. Why would you want to be on a ticket with someone where there’s such a fundamental difference?”
Scott responded by focusing on Trump’s expectations for the upcoming election, saying, “President Trump himself said he expects this election to be fair, he expects it to be honest, and he expects to win.”
From there, Welker repeatedly asked Scott if he would commit to accepting the results of the 2024 election, but Scott repeatedly dodged the question. His responses centered around his belief that Trump would win, and he refrained from explicitly stating whether he would accept the results if they didn’t favor Trump.
Welker’s persistence led to increasingly vague answers from Scott. When she pressed him for a simple yes or no, he replied with statements such as “The American people will make the decision, and the decision will be for President Trump.” When Welker tried again, Scott lashed out at NBC, claiming that “NBC is an extension of the Democrat Party.”
Despite Welker’s attempts to get a clear answer, Scott maintained his stance without directly committing to accepting the election results. Even after her final attempt, Scott reiterated his belief that Trump would be the next president and declined to answer the question directly, calling it a “hypothetical.”
“You voted to certify the election results of 2020,” Welker said. “It’s the exact opposite of what you said and did after 2020. Why would you want to be on a ticket with someone where there’s such a fundamental difference?”
“President Trump himself said he expects this election to be fair,” Scott replied. “He expects it to be honest, and he expects to win. That’s what the presidential candidate should expect. And I expect the exact same thing. And frankly, the American people agree with him.”
From there, Welker began pressing Scott on his willingness to accept the 2024 results.
“Will you commit to accepting the election results of 2024: Bottom line?” Welker asked.
“At the end of the day, the 47th president of the United States will be President Donald Trump,” Scott said.
“Wait Senator,” Welker said, “Yes or no? Will you accept the election results of 2024 no matter who wins?”
Scott dodged a second time.
“That is my statement,” he said simply.
Welker gave it a third shot.
“Just yes or no: Will you accept the election results of 2024?” Welker said.
The senator began to express frustration at Welker’s line of questioning.
“I look forward to President Trump being the 47th president,” Scott said. “Kristen, you can ask him multiple times—”
“Sir,” Welker said — interjecting. “Just a yes or no answer.”
“The American people will make the decision,” he replied. “And the decision will be for President Trump.”
With four failed attempts already on the ledger, Welker wasted no time going for number five.
“I don’t hear you committing to the election results,” she said. “Will you commit to the election results?”
Scott, in response, lashed out at Welker’s employer.
“This is why so many Americans believe that NBC is an extension of the Democrat Party,” Scott said. “At the end of the day, I’ve said what I’ve said, and I know that the American people, their voices will be heard. And I believe that President Trump will be our next president.”
Despite the senator’s five dodges, Welker gave it one last shot before moving on.
“The hallmark of our democracy is that both candidates agree to a peaceful transfer of power,” Welker said. “So I’m asking you, as a potential VP nominee, will you accept to commit to the election results in this election cycle, no matter who wins? Just simply yes or no.”
“I expect President Trump to win the next election. Listen, I’m not going to ask to answer your hypothetical question,” Scott said — leaving unclear which part of Welker’s question he viewed as a hypothetical.
