Donald Trump was roundly rebuked by Republicans after he refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses to Joe Biden in November’s US election.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate majority leader who rarely censures Mr Trump, wrote on Twitter that there would be an “orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792” — a reference to the re-election of George Washington.
His comment came amid a storm of anger about Mr Trump’s response to a question on Wednesday, when asked if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power in the event that he lost the November ballot. Mr Trump replied: “We’re going to have to see what happens.”