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Donald Trump appears to have some kind of dim realization that by refusing to say he’d accept the results of the election, he’s really stepped in a bigly pile of tremendousness. Practically every major newspaper and media site is calling him on the carpet for this today, in a chorus of outrage that this man would so casually delegitimize one of America’s most vital and important institutions, setting the stage for violence from his increasingly crazed followers.

So today at his rally in Delaware, Ohio, Trump addressed this problem he’s made for himself (which is how all of Trump’s problems originate) — by making it even worse.

“I would like to promise and pledge to all of my voters and supporters and to all of the people of the United States, that I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election — if I win.”

It’s been obvious since Trump started ranting about a “rigged election” that his motivation was purely selfish and narcissistic; that he wouldn’t be pushing this nonsense if he were winning. Today he made that obvious inference quite explicit.

Weird—Trump camp sent out his prepared remarks with both “if I win” line & “alternate” punchline about accepting Hillary’s concession speech pic.twitter.com/DQy8vJvi7a

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) October 20, 2016