Donald Trump refuses to say whether he'll accept election result

Jamie Roberton

Former Health and Science Producer

  • Video report by ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore

Donald Trump has refused to say whether he will accept the outcome of the presidential election, saying he will keep America "in suspense".

Trump - who has for days claimed the election is "rigged" - used the third and final presidential debate in Las Vegas to serve notice that he may not recognise the legitimacy of a Hillary Clinton victory.

"I'll look at it at the time. I'll keep you in suspense," the Republican nominee said when pressed by Fox News moderator Chris Wallace.

Clinton said Trump's response was "horrifying" and earlier called him a "puppet" of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump said Clinton was "such a nasty woman" as the bad blood between the two candidates - who refused to shake hands at the start - came to the fore.

Other highlights from the 90-minute debate included:

  • The Republican nominee reiterated his commitment to building a wall along the Mexican border

  • "We have some bad hombres and we are going to get them out," Trump said

  • Trump called Clinton a "proven liar" who should not be allowed to run for president

  • He also labelled the Clinton Foundation as a "criminal enterprise"

  • Clinton said Trump's vision for America was "dark and dangerous"

  • Trump said he expected a ruling which made abortion legal in America to be overturned if he became president because he would appoint pro-life Supreme Court justices

Trump's suggestion he could challenge the result of November 8 will dominate the headlines and raise fears that post-election America could become further divided and engulfed in a legal quagmire.

“Let’s be clear about what he is saying and what that means," Clinton said.

"He is denigrating - he is talking down our democracy. I am appalled that someone who is the nominee of one of our two major parties would take that position.”

She accused her rival of crying foul play whenever things did not go his way, recalling how he has accused the FBI, the Republican Party and the organisers of the Emmys of corruption.

“There was even a time when he didn’t get an Emmy for his TV programme three years in a row and he started tweeting that the Emmys were rigged."

“Should have gotten it!” Trump interrupted, sparking laughs in the auditorium.

The Republican nominee entered Wednesday's debate attempting to keep the race competitive, amid plunging poll numbers and a slew of sexual assault allegations.

His treatment of women was again a theme.

He claimed accusations of sexual misconduct were either made up by the Clinton campaign, as he dismissed his accusers as women seeking "10 minutes of fame".

"Nobody has more respect for women than I do," he insisted.

  • Analysis from ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore

Recalling how Trump has publicly hit back at his accusers, Clinton said: "Donald thinks belittling women makes him bigger. He goes after their dignity, their self-worth...that's who Donald is."

Speaking after the debate, her campaign manager Robby Mook said Trump's claim he may refuse to accept the result is "the darkest thing we've heard in this campaign".

Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign chief, told ITV News that Trump would not need to contest the result "because he's going to win".

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Trump would only challenge if there was evidence of election fraud.