Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin defended Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's refusal to say he would accept the outcome of the election should Democrat Hillary Clinton win on Nov. 8.
Palin, a long-time Trump supporter, and her husband, Todd, were Trump's guests at the debate in Las Vegas Wednesday night.
Trump has been railing that the election will be "rigged" at recent campaign events. Asked in the third debate whether he would accept the election outcome if he loses, Trump told moderator and Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, "I will keep you in suspense."
Palin took to Facebook late Wednesday to defend Trump's answer.
Trump's answer was the right one, Palin said. "What reasonable person would preemptively accept any and all hypothetical questions and conditions of any hypothetical election?"
Trump was only responding to reports of potential voter fraud and making clear that he would not accept cheating, Palin said.
"It's shortsighted to commit to accepting the outcome of a race REGARDLESS of unscrupulous cheaters. How totally unfair that would be to the American voter!" she wrote.
Potential cheaters "better be on their toes," she said.
Palin also argued that Trump would certainly accept the results of a "legitimate election."
"What the heck is so hard to understand about that?" she asked.
Trump doubled down on his comments at a rally Thursday, telling a crowd that he would certainly accept the election results — if he wins.