Ego ‘Trumps’ results

Republican+presidential+candidate+Donald+Trump+speaks+during+a+campaign+rally+at+the+Myrtle+Beach+Sports+Center+on+Feb.+19%2C+2016+in+Myrtle+Beach%2C+S.C.+%28Olivier+Douliery%2FTNS%29

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Myrtle Beach Sports Center on Feb. 19, 2016 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Olivier Douliery/TNS)

By the editorial board

As the final days dwindle down to election day, Donald Trump has shown that he doesn’t plan on Nov. 8 being the conclusive day of his campaign — unless he wins that is. 

The unabashed Republican nominee for leader of the free world doubled-down on previous claims and has hinted throughout his campaign that he will not accept the upcoming election’s results, including at the final presidential debate on Oct. 19 in Las Vegas. Understandably, his opponent Hillary Clinton was shocked by the admittance, who could be overheard saying, “That’s horrifying,” immediately after Trump’s claim.

While Trump’s words sparked energy into his loyal base of supporters, many on the outside looking in shook their heads in shock and disbelief. Trump, a character who’s drawn comparisons to Hitler, Mussolini, Putin, and other fascist dictators has blatantly said that he has no faith in the American people, those he wishes to represent, and if he comes up short he will go to potentially historic, unfathomable measures to leave uncertainty, unrest and discord among the American people.

Therefore, the results of this election have the potential to turn catastrophic even if Trump doesn’t get so much as a sniff of the White House. For someone who constantly insists he is trying to bring people together to “Make America Great Again,” Trump has a knack for stirring up trouble both at his rallies and abroad, later claiming no responsibility for the actions his words encouraged. 

Trump has said in the past that Mexicans are murderers and rapists, women should be punished for having abortions, and Muslims should be banned from entering the U.S. He has bragged about sexually assaulting women and then denied it, manipulated the tax system for nearly 20 years, and has had a handful of businesses go bankrupt. 

With all of this cringe-worthy information public record on Trump, it’s even more shocking how much he simply denies his own previous statements and actions, directly insulting the intelligence of his supporters in the process.

This type of deflection is nothing new to Trump, who wants all the glory and success of the presidency with none of the responsibility or accountability. Perhaps CNN’s Anderson Cooper said it best when he described Trump’s diversion and lack of accountability for a spat in the spring with Sen. Ted Cruz by saying, “That’s the argument of a five-year-old.” 

Given Trump’s denial to accept he may lose, it’s evident Cooper may have been on to something with his “five-year-old” jab at a GOP debate earlier this year, although in this instance he may not be giving the average five-year-old enough credit.

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