Obama warns of ‘dangerous path’ amid Trump’s refusal to accept election result

Barack Obama said he is troubled that Republican officials are humouring Donald Trump (AP)

Barack Obama has said Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the election that delivered victory for Democrat Joe Biden is putting the United States on a “dangerous path”.

Mr Trump is trying to convince the people that they should not believe the numbers that clearly demonstrate his rival’s win.

Rather, he is making baseless claims of massive fraud, demanding recounts and calling for audits in an effort to discredit the outcome and, in the process, put democracy itself on trial.

Mr Obama, who invited Mr Trump to the White House soon after his election win four years ago and pledged co-operation in the transfer of power, said he is not shocked that a man who “never admits loss” is refusing to acknowledge defeat now.

Donald Trump speaking in the Rose Garden of the White House (AP)

“I’m more troubled by the fact that other Republican officials, who clearly know better, are going along with this, are humouring him in this fashion,” Mr Obama told CBS show 60 Minutes.

“It is one more step in delegitimising not just the incoming Biden administration but democracy generally. And that’s a dangerous path.”