by Tyler Fransen
The final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton took place Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). It is the last time the presidential candidates will be debating on the issues before the election.
The debate was moderated by Chris Wallace of Fox News. Wallace began the debate by asking the candidates about their choice for the Supreme Court, and how the candidates believed the constitution should be interpreted.
Clinton was the first to answer and said, “[…] it really raises the central issue in this election, namely ‘What kind of country are we going to be?’ […] And I feel strongly that the Supreme Court needs to stand on the side of the American people, not on the side of the powerful corporations and the wealthy.”
Trump answered that his choice for the Supreme Court would support the second amendment saying that the amendment was, “under absolute siege” and also said that if Secretary Clinton was elected that the amendment would be, “a small replica of what it is today.”
For most of the night, Wallace’s questions concerned policy and the candidates as potential presidents.
Wallace did, however, pose a question not of specific policy, but if the candidates were able to have a peaceful transition of power between presidents and if the candidates were going to accept the results of the election. The question was in response to Trump’s claims at his rallies that the election is, “rigged.”
Wallace asked Trump specifically, “Will you absolutely accept the result of this election?”
“I will look at it at the time,” Trump said.
Wallace maintained his original question saying, “[…] there is a tradition in this country, in fact, one of the prides of this country, is the peaceful transition of power, and that no matter how hard fought a campaign is, […] that the loser concedes to the winner and that the country comes together in part for the good of the country, are you saying now that you are not prepared to commit to that principle?”
Trump maintained that he would wait until election day, even saying, “I’ll keep you in suspense.”
This was the final debate for both of the candidates, however, the final time they shared the stage together was the next day during the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner where the candidates took comedic jabs at each other for a charitable cause.
For now, the campaigns will be finalizing their stops around the country in key swing states before election day on Nov. 8.
