President Trump says he will accept midterm results only if elections are honest

President Donald Trump told reporters that he would accept the results of the November 3 midterm elections if they are "honest," adding a conditional caveat to his acceptance.

When asked how he would work with Democrats should they gain control of the House of Representatives, Trump said, "We’ll figure a way," and noted that presidents have faced similar situations in the past, suggesting that political deals could be negotiated.

"I will if they’re honest elections, yeah," Trump said in response to a question about respecting the outcome regardless of which party wins.

Trump is traveling to Texas, where he will appear alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a newly arrived oil tanker carrying Venezuelan crude destined for Texas refineries. The visit coincides with a competitive Senate race in which Republican incumbent Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico.

Republicans currently hold both chambers of Congress, but a Democratic gain in the House could impede Republican-backed legislation and increase scrutiny of the Trump administration. A Democratic Senate majority would also affect confirmations of senior officials and federal judges.

The remarks come amid ongoing legal challenges related to the upcoming elections. The Justice Department has sued California over approximately 20,000 ballots it alleges may belong to non-citizens, a case that a federal appeals court recently sent back to a district court for further review. In Alaska, the department has filed a lawsuit seeking to delay certification of the Senate race if incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan loses, citing potential voter confusion with a similarly named independent candidate. Trump confirmed that he directed the Justice Department to pursue the Alaska case.