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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters upon arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Oct. 26 (local time). / Reuters-Yonhap

Ahead of next week's U.S. midterm elections, President Donald Trump said he would accept the results only under certain conditions, leaving open the possibility of challenging the outcome.

According to The Washington Post (WP), AFP and other news outlets, Trump was asked by reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Oct. 27 (local time), as he headed to campaign rallies in Texas, whether he would respect the midterm election results. "I will, if they're honest elections," he replied. Critics have raised concerns that his remarks could be laying the groundwork for challenging the election results or invoking emergency powers.

Trump was unusually accompanied on his trip to Texas by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is considered a potential contender for the next presidential election.

Trump previously said in 2016 that he would accept the election results "if I win," and in 2024 that he would do so if the election was "fair and legal and good."

Trump has long claimed that fraud is widespread in U.S. elections, including the 2020 presidential election that he lost, and has sought to secure federal government control over election administration.

The Trump administration has filed lawsuits concerning election procedures and initiated legal reviews. Trump has also announced a $1 million reward for anyone providing information that could lead to convictions for election fraud. Allegations that previously focused on mail-in ballots and vote-counting systems have recently shifted toward voting by noncitizens.

The midterm elections are seen as a significant challenge for the ruling Republican Party, with surging oil prices and inflation stemming from the armed conflict with Iran emerging as key issues. Republicans fear a Democratic "blue wave," or landslide victory. Even the Senate race in Texas, a Republican stronghold for more than 30 years, has become closely contested. AFP reported that Trump has been traveling across the country to rally his supporters, holding campaign events almost daily over the past month.

Asked about his plans for the political landscape after the elections, Trump left open the possibility of bipartisan cooperation even if Republicans lose their majorities in both the House and Senate, while emphasizing that "the president has strong veto power." "We'll figure a way," he said. "That's happened before with many presidents, and you end up working on deals."

                                                                                                          Lee Jeong-eun