How to lose like a winner

Emmanuel E. Velivasakis

Losing is tough. Losing the White House is even harder.

Apparently surprised by his defeat, Trump’s refusal to place the normal call to his victorious rival and to publicly accept the verdict of voters has already done significant damage to the country, deepening the polarization that Biden will face in office. But it’s not too late to do the right thing.

In the name of democracy and continuity, American presidents and defeated candidates have long understood that they have a responsibility to explain to their supporters that their successor will be legitimate — Trump need only look to presidents and candidates who had the White House snatched away, for an example of how to take it on the chin.