For weeks/months, I’ve tried to avoid spinning out various apocalyptic scenarios where Donald Trump would lose the election but simply refuse to leave, or refuse to concede. Like, I’ve actually wanted to scream at people spinning those stories: “you’re giving him ideas!” or “stop manifesting that crap!” I want to believe that everything will be very clear and a blue wave to wash over all these Nazis and we’ll know by Wednesday morning. But the apocalyptic scenarios are still… there. And Trump is actively trying to make this as undemocratic as possible.
President Trump has told confidants he’ll declare victory on Tuesday night if it looks like he’s “ahead,” according to three sources familiar with his private comments. That’s even if the Electoral College outcome still hinges on large numbers of uncounted votes in key states like Pennsylvania.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday evening, Trump denied that he would declare victory prematurely, before adding, “I think it’s a terrible thing when ballots can be collected after an election. I think it’s a terrible thing when states are allowed to tabulate ballots for a long period of time after the election is over. I think it’s terrible that we can’t know the results of an election the night of the election. … We’re going to go in the night of, as soon as that election’s over, we’re going in with our lawyers. We don’t want to have Pennsylvania, where you have a political governor, a very partisan guy. … We don’t want to be in a position where he’s allowed, every day, to watch ballots come in. See if we can only find 10,000 more ballots.”
Behind the scenes: Trump has privately talked through this scenario in some detail in the last few weeks, describing plans to walk up to a podium on election night and declare he has won. For this to happen, his allies expect he would need to either win or have commanding leads in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Iowa, Arizona and Georgia.
Why it matters: Trump’s team is preparing to falsely claim that mail-in ballots counted after Nov. 3 — a legitimate count expected to favor Democrats — are evidence of election fraud. Many prognosticators say that on election night, Trump will likely appear ahead in Pennsylvania — though the state’s final outcome could change substantially as mail-in ballots are counted over the following days. Trump’s team is preparing to claim baselessly that if that process changes the outcome in Pennsylvania from the picture on election night, then Democrats would have “stolen” the election.
Trump’s advisers have been laying the groundwork for this strategy for weeks, but this is the first account of Trump explicitly discussing his election night intentions. Asked for comment, the Trump campaign’s communications director Tim Murtaugh said, “This is nothing but people trying to create doubt about a Trump victory. When he wins, he’s going to say so.”
I honestly feel sick to my stomach. Remember in 2012, when Barack Obama won reelection handily and we knew on Election Night? That was the night Donald Trump sat on Twitter and called for armed rebellion against Obama. It was scoffed at the time, because everyone knew Trump was a nutcase, and news anchors and journalists made fun of Trump then, eight years ago. What happens when Trump does the same thing an hour after the polls close on Tuesday?
Photos courtesy of Getty.
American people, I am begging you to do the right thing this time and to vote him out.
Black women have been on this. Beg to all the other Americans (white and white-adjacent folks especially).
We did the right thing last time. Clinton won that election. The electoral college, which was created to keep psychopaths like Trump out of power, proved that it doesn’t work the way it was meant to. It needs to be abolished.
He’s gonna lose in a landslide. I wish I lived near enough to DC to go chant “LOSER! LOSER!” outside the White House.
My cousins do and will.
I’m still debating it. I can leave in the morning and get there by afternoon. I’ve got nothing on tomorrow or Wednesday. But I’d have to quarantine when I got back and also I’m low key scared to drive through rural PA right now. So idk.
I do, but I’m scared to get my hopes up.
However, I can also see an outcome where Biden leads on Tuesday night, and then Trump starts screaming about how it’s not over until all the absentee ballots come in and are counted. Then a reporter says, “But you’ve been very outspoken about all ballots being cast by Tuesday night.” Then Trump starts talking out his ass about how every American’s vote should county yada yada. Because he’s Trump, and he changes his stance to suit himself.
Agirlandherdog-
This is precisely what will happen. He will be behind Tuesday night, and change his tune.
That would be nothing new as he frequently does 180’s on things he says. Whatever benefits him the most.
Someone needs to tell this idiot that just because he says he won, doesn’t mean he actually won. I’m actually VERY scared for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris if all wishes and dreams come true and they win. I’m scared for their safety. This man has already had people murder others in his name.
Me too. He is acting like a dictator and people actually have guns in the us, this is so scary. I hate my president too but I am glad that he has at least common sense.
Yeah, this human asscrack has NO morals.
The states certify elections not the candidates. He is trying to scare people from voting because he is a tiny penis-brained man.
This is exactly it @Liz version 700
I’m trying to find out how it would be possible for him to hold on, like, seriously, is that even remotely a possibility? I mean, he has certainly found ways to weasel out of impeachment and a host of other horrors that should have taken him down, but is there any possibility that the vote counting could be stopped? Isn’t it legally that our votes are counted until all are received?
He will be sending lawyers to PA to try every dirty trick imaginable, but he can’t if the states keep counting ballots. We have to vote. Anyone who knows anyone who hasn’t voted beg them to go do it. I have no doubt Trump will try anything, but this isn’t Biden’s first rodeo and he has upwards of 600 lawyers on standby so I have faith we can do this!
Sadly we’re going to need twitter to shut down his account. Will they do it? Probably not.
That’s incredibly weird because behind the scenes the White House has been preparing for the transition of powers normally. I’m not sure if Trump really means what he’s saying or if he has to pretend like he didn’t lose so that when he leaves office he can pretend to his supporters that it was unfair. It’s dangerous either way. Maybe he’s glad he won’t have to pretend to work anymore, but doesn’t ever want to “lose” or seen as a loser. Or he really wants to be king. He’s so volatile and unhinged it’s hard to know.
If Trump loses (by a wide enough margin that he can’t dispute it in the courts) there is no wiggle room in the Constitution. He has to be out on January 21st. That’s likely why the White House is preparing. They know that, no matter what crazy shit he tweets, the Constitution is very clear.
Now, there is absolutely concern that, if the margin is small, he may try to fight it out in courts. That’s why EVERYONE NEEDS TO VOTE BIDEN. There can be no doubt who won.
Winning is not a sure thing at this point…. I was watching election coverage all weekend… he has momentum. Even if he does lose…. I am worried about a civil war. My husband told me that bullets are sold out everywhere right now. My blood went cold. I am legit terrified.
I’m scared too. There were trump caravans driving around my city all weekend. I’m sure they’re out there right now. Most of them are armed. And they are looking for fights. This week is going to be bad. I am worried for all of us. Please stay safe everyone.
and Walmart has stopped gun sales for the moment… Totally normal and ok
Oh dear God.
Walmart rescinded that and gun sales are back on. They aren’t going to miss an opportunity to make money during hunting season.
They just took them off the floor for a day and then relented and put them back out. They all have trigger locks on them though so if Walmart gets looted they also need to find the keys.
My fears have moved from Trump winning to what he’ll do in the months before Biden is sworn in. I’m confident Biden can win, and even win big. But Trump is going to cheat, lie, and try to steal the election and I’m scared we don’t have enough safeguards in place to stop him. The law hasn’t applied to him his entire presidency.
That said, I think he talks a big game but ultimately doesn’t want to be president anymore if there’s a resounding “no” in the polls. I think he’ll run away.
Everything you just said.
I think he doesn’t want to be president again, but he doesn’t want to lose. He’ll do as much damage as he can on his way out and open a golf course in Argentina where he’ll stay. That’s where his kind like to flee to right?
I think he found the job requires more work than he wanted (which is laughable – he didn’t expect being PRESIDENT to be that much work) and he absolutely didn’t imagine dealing with a pandemic. This isn’t a “fun” job for him other than the rallies, which he can still hold even if he loses. He’s going to be embarrassed if he loses big and will have a temper tantrum in which he stomps off to cry.
Chris and Case, I agree with you. This is what we get for electing an unqualified, unfit toddler to our country’s highest office. The way he talks, it’s like he barely knows how our country’s institutions work. It would be laughable if it wasn’t so frightening.
I truly think he will make havoc for 2 months. Mainly because he has made havoc for 4 years. I am betting he takes his toys and goes to Maralago and refuses to pretend to work anymore leaving Pence and Jared to fight it out in a cage match for who gets to be lame duck supervisor.
Every day, I hope to wake up to a headline about this administration being torn apart and eaten by dogs. I have never been so anxious.
He did not win the popular vote last time. Has he really gained voters since then, now that we can see the ineptness, corruption and cruelty of the past 4 years?
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I believed in 2016 that Joe would have been a more viable candidate than Hillary. He does not have the same (mostly unfounded) conspiracy baggage attached to him.
I think he knows cheating is the only way he can pull off a victory this time.
I think almost any white male democrat could have beat Trump in 2016. It was too much to try for a woman after 8 years of a black man. Especially a woman as maligned (wrongly) as Hilary.
Yes exactly. It’s heartbreaking, but yeah pretty much. America really hates women. We saw the rise of the tea party once Obama was in office. Any time anyone but a white male seeks out the presidency, a good portion of america really shows itself.
The stakes are high. We are going to have to hope for the best and Nancy’s reassurance that he will be fumigated out, will happen
I’m genuinely keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you all. I can’t wait till this fucker is out of the WH and Joe Biden get in. I hope you are all keeping safe and I’m thinking of you from the UK. xx
I’ve been super quiet because my insides are in turmoil, and I constantly feel like I’m going to hurl. Everything he has said, every single day, has made me furious. Biden’s bus is surrounded by aggressive and dangerous flag-waving Trump psychopaths and shit stain tweets he loves Texas. His supporters do not give a shit. I’m scared.
This is going to go on for weeks. WEEKS. And it’s not like those people that ran the bus off the road or cheered it on (TX GOP chairman, local sheriff etc) disappear on Nov 3rd.
I just keep wanting to shout (even at fellow dems who are snarky about people getting mail in ballots ‘late’) That many states DON’T START COUNTING MAIL IN VOTES UNTIL ELECTION DAY. It doesn’t matter if they were proactive and got them in Oct 15, or got them in Nov 3. Also ballots that get in during the legal time period are STILL LEGAL.
Never mind that fact that I know military that requested their ballots in early september and still haven’t gotten them. Or that my cousin mailed her ballot back 3 weeks ago and according to the state tracker system, they still haven’t received them.
American friends – we are all thinking of you and worried sick for you. Reading the “all bullets are sold out” comment is terrifying. We all hope for the best. This is going to be awful to watch. Even if Biden gets in, which he best. It’s going to be awful to watch this go down.
The fact that this is even a contested election is a failure of American policy and education. My family has bug out bags ready and three months of food staples at the ready because we live in Pennsylvania, and things are extremely tense here. I am literally begging people to recognize when you’re country is making the tip over into full-on fascism and stop it.
It appals me that any American has to make these sorts of preparations for an ELECTION! Republicans truly do not care whether their country goes down in flames. Crossing my fingers (and toes, and everything else!) that everyone is safe.
Honestly, I’m immensely privileged to be able to make those preparations, and I have the immense privilege of being white, even if I am a sexual minority. It’s ethnic minorities and the poor that I’m really worried about over the next few weeks. I stocked up in part because I have friends who may need help.
This is exactly why I was too scared to put out a Biden sign. I don’t want any crazy neighbors to retaliate if Trump loses, because I firmly believe they’re batshit enough to set my house on fire or kill my dogs or something. I obviously want Biden to win, but I’m terrified of the aftermath.
If Trump loses, he might go out like Hitler.
We aren’t that lucky. He’ll try to sneak away in the night like the cockroach he is.
He can declare what he wants but there is a process that must be observed. They’ve already barricaded the White House so it’s bunker boy time if he loses.
PA-er here. Terrified over this man not having our legitimate votes count. So much so, that I took my mail in ballot to a drop off box and got word that it was confirmed. So, at least two Biden Western PA ballots here!
The attorney general for PA, is ready it. He had a tweet that said,
“FACT CHECK: Our elections are over when all the votes are counted.
But if your lawyers want to try us, we’d be happy to defeat you in court one more time.”
Shapiro is ready to fight for your state, so that is very good news. He’s out in front of this trump talk and swatting it down aggressively.
I’m in Chesco. The issue here is that the GOP refused to allow ballot processing begin prior to polls opening on election day and I think I heard that up to 8 counties are specifically going to wait to start processing any of the mail ballots received prior to election day after the polls close or not even start that count until the next day. It’s widely rumored that the Republican run state legislature will then appeal to SCOTUS to halt counting of any ballots after Nov 3rd (not just ones received after election day but any ballots not counted on Nov 3rd) – which is ridiculous because (a) they want to discard ballots received prior to election day and (b) states have always had at least a week or 2 to complete the count & certify the results before the electoral college vote occurred.
@pottymouth pup What is the law on this? It seems quite arbitrary re: states have always had 1-2 weeks to complete the count. Is there no law on the books that says all votes must be counted, or something to that effect?
Trump has some nerve claiming voter fraud before the votes are even starting to be counted. If Biden wins and Trump doesn’t accept it like an adult then I do hope that a number of Republican elected officials will start openly declaring Biden the winner and telling Trump to get over it.
The Financial Times had an article on how a number of American CEOs are turning their backs on Trump (since they have their tax cuts!). The CEOs are fearful of civil unrest – it isn’t good for business.
I’m an atheist but this whole situation has got me praying for you, my dear American neighbours. I believe regardless of the election outcome, the next few weeks will be extremely volatile. Even if Biden wins (which I am quite sure he will) I think it’s going to be scary for awhile as the Vanilla ISIS trumpers stomp around trying to assert their assholery. I am praying for your safety, for your democracy, and that integrity and intelligence will prevail.
“Pennsylvania, where you have a political governor, a very partisan guy”
Wha?? A politician is political? And…has a political party? Crazy. Has anyone looked into the other 49 governors? Are they political and partisan too?
Ong say it isn’t so hahahahah
Canadian here. Seriously anxious for you all tomorrow. I really really hope the US can right the ship.
All of the complicit folks engaged in this behavior is just sad…
Remember that narcissistic psychopaths love to play mind games.
I would love for him and every member of his grifting crime family to spend the rest of their lives in prison. But at this point, I would settle for his heart seizing and him falling over like the rotten tree that he is.