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US election 2016: 'Stop whining,' Obama tells Donald Trump | |
(35 minutes later) | |
US President Barack Obama has told Donald Trump to "stop whining" following his claims that next month's election will be rigged. | |
He said Mr Trump's attempt to discredit a poll before it has even taken place is "unprecedented" for a US presidential candidate. | |
Also "unprecedented", said Mr Obama, was the Republican candidate's "flattery" of Russia's president. | |
Mr Trump is facing sinking poll numbers and accusations of sexual assault. | |
The businessman-turned-politician has repeatedly claimed that the 8 November election will be stolen for Hillary Clinton. | |
But in a White House Rose Garden news conference alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Tuesday, Mr Obama said his assertions were "based on no facts". | |
"I'd advise Mr Trump to stop whining and try to make his case to get votes," Mr Obama said. | |
"By the way," he added, "doesn't really show the kind of leadership and toughness that you want out of a president, if you start whining before the game's even over. | |
"If whenever things are going badly for you and you lose you start blaming somebody else, then you don't have what it takes to be in this job." | |
Mr Obama also addressed the Republican candidate's admiring remarks about Vladimir Putin. | |
"Mr Trump's continued flattery of Mr Putin and the degree to which he appears to model much of his policies and approach to politics on Mr Putin is unprecedented," he said. | |
His broadside comes a day after Mr Trump said he would consider visiting Russia before taking office, if elected. | |
He told a talk-radio host: "If I win on November 8, I could see myself meeting with Putin and meeting with Russia prior to the start of the administration." |