WATCH: Trump's chief of staff starts shouting when grilled about president's refusal to accept election results
On Thursday, CNN's Wolf Blitzer pressed White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about President Donald Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transition of power after the election, and became visibly agitated and raised his voice under questioning.
"He said he's not sure the election could be honest here in the United States," said Blitzer. "Is he saying if he wins, he'll accept the results, if he loses, he won't commit to a peaceful transition?"
"I haven't heard him say that," said Meadows. "I can tell you what I have heard him say, Wolf, is really overwhelming concern about mail-in ballots ... we're seeing some activist judges across the country interpret the law that really is not on the books. They're actually making the law. I think that's what most of this is about, making sure that as long as it's free and fair. If it's free and fair, we'll accept the will of the American people. We believe that will be the re-election of Donald Trump."
"You say we'll have a peaceful transfer of power here in the United States if it's a free and fair election," said Blitzer. "But President Trump previously said the only way he would lose the election is if the election is rigged. That's his word. The only way he loses is if the election is rigged. Who decides if it's free and fair?"
"I'm hopeful that we'll be able to see a free and fair election on November 3rd, and the results will be what they are, and with that we're planning for a second term," said Meadows. "Perhaps we ought to get Hillary Clinton on, because she was the first one to tell Joe Biden, no matter what the results are, you shouldn't concede."
"But, as you know, Mark, with all due respect, Hillary Clinton isn't running against President Trump," said Blitzer. "She tried do that and lost four years ago."
"But it was advice to Joe Biden," shot back Meadows. "I didn't hear him push back at all. Did you hear him push back?"
"Joe Biden and his campaign said publicly they are committed to a peaceful transfer of power," said Blitzer. "The U.S. Senate today would actually convene. They passed a commitment for a peaceful transfer of power. In the House, the number three Republican, Liz Cheney, a woman you know well, she said this: 'The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our republic. America's leaders swear to uphold the Constitution. We will uphold that oath.' Here's the question. Will you commit here, right now, to upholding that same oath, what we heard from Liz Cheney?"
"Without a doubt," said Meadows. "I've raised my right hand to uphold the Constitution, and there's not as much difference between what Liz Cheney said about upholding a Constitution and supporting a free and fair election. You have to have both of those because if you don't have one without the other, you don't have a democracy, and I would agree with that."
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