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Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29

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AP FACT CHECK: Sharp contrast between Gore in 2000 and Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) – Donald Trump, who’s railed for months about a “rigged” political system, used the final presidential debate to defiantly say he won’t decide until the election ends whether he will accept its results.

Pressed on that remarkable challenge to a keystone of the democratic process, his defenders have drawn a parallel to Democrat Al Gore’s contest of the disputed 2000 presidential election.

A comparison of what the Republican presidential candidate and his allies said to what happened 16 years ago:

TRUMP: Asked last month during his first debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton whether he would accept the election outcome, Trump said, “The answer is, if she wins, I will absolutely support her.”

Asked virtually the same question Wednesday by debate moderator Chris Wallace, Trump answered differently.