Lamar Alexander: Trump needs to "put the country first" and accept election results

“The states have counted, certified their votes,” the Tennessee Republican told host Chuck Todd.” The courts have resolved the disputes. It looks very much like the electors will vote for Joe Biden. And when they do, I hope that he puts the country first — mean, the president — that he takes pride in his considerable accomplishments, that he congratulates the president-elect and he helps him get off to a good start, especially in the middle of this pandemic. We need to not lose one day in the transition in getting the vaccine out to everybody who needs it.”…

In discussing threats made against election officials in various states, Alexander looked to history to say that the ability to transfer power in a peaceful fashion is one of the key features of a democracy.

“I think the most important thing for our country, as George Washington said when it was founded, is not the first election, but the second election, the orderly transfer of power. I think anything that detracts from that is not good for our democracy,” he said. “I think anything that detracts from that is not good for our democracy. And people can make their own judgment about whether the president’s acting appropriately or not.”