De Blasio likens Trump’s comments to a 'third-world dictator'

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Donald Trump’s refusal to say whether he would concede if he loses the presidential election in November is something expected from a “third world dictator, not from an American presidential candidate.”

During an interview with CNN on Thursday morning, de Blasio, a surrogate for Hillary Clinton, said Trump’s remarks made during the third and final presidential debate are “dangerous” and “something you’d expect from a military leader about to attempt a coup in a foreign country.”


Trump’s comments came after spending months spreading the unsubstantiated claim that the election will be “rigged” against him, and suggesting that he will contest the results. Still, his campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, has repeated that she does not think the election will be “rigged” and said after the debate that he will concede if he loses the election fair and square.

But his comments sparked wide criticism and concern, even among some Republicans. Sen. Lindsey Graham issued a statement saying, “Trump is doing a great disservice by continuing to suggest the outcome of this election is out of his hand.” He added, ”If he loses it will not be because the system is rigged, but because he failed as a candidate.”

Other Republicans leaped to Trump's defense, saying he wouldn't be the first candidate to contest an election.

“This is exactly what Al Gore did,” former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said to reporters in the spin room Wednesday night after the debate. “It was their Democrat, Al Gore.”