Former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief of staff Miles Taylor wavered repeatedly on Sunday in an interview with Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.) about whether he would accept the 2024 election results. He said this was “very disturbing.” ‘Terrifying signal’ ahead of November election.
Taylor, who worked in the Trump administration, told CNN’s Jessica Dean that he considered Scott’s interview an unofficial audition to be Trump’s running mate in 2024. 2 picks.
“Well, the hesitation, the hesitation in his voice, that’s an audition. He’s auditioning, and the casting director asks him an unexpected question,” Taylor said. “And I think this sends a very appalling signal.”
Taylor later added: “I’m very personally disappointed in some of the members of Congress that I know, like Tim Scott and Elise Stefanik, and others who are sticking to this line to get closer to Trump. “It took what we thought was a threat to democracy from one man and applied it to the upper echelons of the entire party.”
In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Kristen Welker pressed Scott about President Trump not promising to accept the 2024 election results, then asked Scott if he would promise to accept the results. Asked.
Scott repeatedly avoided answering questions about whether he would accept the election results, even though he was pressed at least three times to say yes or no, saying, “At the end of the day, the 47th president of the United States will be president.” ” he said. Donald Trump. “
Mr. Welker further asked: “Wait, wait, Senator. Yes or no. Yes or no? Are you going to accept the results of the 2024 election no matter who wins?”
“That’s my statement,” Scott replied, before adding, “It’s up to the American people to make the decision, and the decision will be made by President Trump.”
Taylor said he was concerned about the similarities between Scott’s comments ahead of the 2020 presidential election, when Trump repeatedly indicated that he would not accept the election results even if he lost. Told.
Taylor said he is concerned that mainstream Republican politicians appear to be pushing similar arguments and are already casting doubt on the election results.
“Compare that to four years ago, the last time this happened, six months before the election, Donald Trump was doing the same thing. He may not accept the 2020 election results. “It was implied,” Taylor said.
He noted that most Republicans at the time did not share Trump’s views.
“We heard primarily reassurances from Republican lawmakers that it would be a free and fair election and that there would be a transfer of power regardless, but they also echoed the assertion that Donald Trump would seek to remain in power. I pretty much denied it. I did that until the last moment,” Taylor said of 2020.
“This time it’s very different because they know what Donald Trump is capable of. And they don’t want to be on the wrong side against him because they want to be on his side. They know that I want to be next to him on the ticket.”
A spokesperson for Scott declined to comment for this story.
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