US News: Trump Setting the Stage to Reject Election Outcome if Defeated

Delegates at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago are expected to feel relieved. The shift in candidate from the aging Joe Biden to his vice president Kamala Harris has put the party back in the running for this year’s general election, which was previously dominated by Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.

The race remains close, and even if Ms. Harris wins, there’s no guarantee she will become president. Much will depend on the performance of Democratic candidates further down the ticket, as well as the actions of the US Congress to uphold the constitution.

If Mr. Trump loses to Ms. Harris, his loyalists are already gearing up for a fight, prompted by his vague yet suggestive remarks. Whether Mr. Trump’s claims of fraud in the 2020 election were valid or not, he seems to be preparing to contest the results again if he faces defeat.

The aftermath of the election on November 5 could potentially plunge America into political and legal turmoil for months. President Biden has already expressed doubts about a peaceful transition if Harris is elected president.

During a March event, Mr. Trump mentioned the possibility of unrest if he doesn’t win, though he left the context unclear. Other politicians, like Ohio state senator George Lang, have made similar ominous statements, hinting at potential civil unrest in case of a loss.

There’s a possibility that Mr. Trump could secure the presidency without winning the popular vote, emphasizing the importance of the electoral college system in the US. The historical precedent of Republican nominees winning through electoral college votes, even when losing the popular vote, adds complexity to the current political climate.

With Mr. Trump’s influence on the US Supreme Court through his judicial appointments, there’s concern that legal battles over election results could heavily sway in his favor. The potential for post-election chaos and legal challenges looms large, suggesting months of uncertainty and political turmoil ahead.

Trump’s efforts to cast doubt on the electoral process and create chaos before the election are reminiscent of previous campaigns. By questioning the legitimacy of the election in advance, he sets the stage for challenging the results if they don’t favor him. This calculated strategy is aimed at sowing discord among voters and delegitimizing the democratic process.

With concerns about the fairness of the upcoming election, the potential for legal challenges, and the influence of partisan actors at various levels, the path to a clear and uncontested election outcome seems fraught with uncertainty.

As the political landscape grows increasingly contentious, the possibility of post-election turmoil and disputes looms large, threatening to undermine the integrity and stability of the democratic process in the US.

When asked about possible violence by Time magazine, Trump replied: “If we don’t win, you know, it depends. It always depends on the fairness of an election.”

He is continuing to sow uncertainty about the truth and legitimacy of many aspects of the campaign. This month he claimed that “nobody” showed up at a mass rally for Harris-Walz in Minnesota and that images of the crowd, which were shown live on TV, were doctored by AI.

Bernie Sanders, the left-wing US senator for Vermont, commented: “Donald Trump may be crazy, but he’s not stupid… clearly, and dangerously, what Trump is doing is laying the groundwork for rejecting the election results if he loses… if you can convince your supporters that thousands of people who attended a televised rally do not exist, it will not be hard to convince them that the election returns in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and elsewhere are ‘fake’ and ‘fraudulent’.”

Trump of course broke his word to the mob he had invited to Washington DC on 6 January 2021 and did not go with them to the storming of the US Capitol. Nor did their violent protest stop vice president Mike Pence from making the final certification of Mr Biden’s victory.

Optimists hope that the firm judicial pursuit of those involved on 6 January – including a 22-year stretch in federal prison for Enrique Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys – will discourage another insurrection in support of Trump. If it comes to it some Republican congressmen and women might refuse to back an attempted steal.

What’s certain is that it will be too soon for Democrats to celebrate if and when the US TV networks “call” the 2024 election for Ms Harris.