Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who has been mentioned as a potential running mate for former President Donald J. Trump, declined to commit to accepting the results of the 2024 presidential election on Sunday. He also reiterated conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
During an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” when asked if he would accept the outcome of this year’s election “no matter what happens,” Mr. Rubio responded: “‘No matter what happens?’ No, if it’s an unfair election, I think it’s going to be contested by each side.”
He avoided direct answers to follow-up questions, falsely alleging that Hillary Clinton had refused to accept her loss in 2016 and bringing up a small group of Democrats who contested George W. Bush’s victory in Ohio in 2004. It should be noted that Mrs. Clinton conceded defeat, and John Kerry did not endorse the objections in 2004.
When confronted with his previous statement about the importance of people’s confidence in the election process, Mr. Rubio repeated baseless claims of voter fraud and illegal activities during the 2020 election. He also mentioned a debunked allegation from the film “2000 Mules” regarding payment for votes in Georgia.
Numerous Republicans, including those eyeing the vice-presidential position, have aligned themselves with Mr. Trump’s denial of the 2020 election results. Some have hesitated to commit to accepting the outcome of the upcoming election. Mr. Trump himself has not ruled out the possibility of political violence if he loses.
In addition to his stance on election results, Mr. Rubio’s interview highlighted his shift on immigration issues. Previously advocating for immigration reform and criticizing mass deportations, he now supports Mr. Trump’s plan for detaining and deporting millions of immigrants.
“The issue has completely changed,” he said, referring to the increasing number of migrants crossing the border. He emphasized the need to address the situation as a mass migration and described it as an invasion that requires drastic action.
