Trump supporters divided over baseless claims of voter fraud

World

Published: 2020-11-07 15:51

Last Updated: 2024-04-26 14:53


Editor: Priyanka Navani

Trump supporters divided over baseless claims of voter fraud
Trump supporters divided over baseless claims of voter fraud

In the days following President Donald Trump's Nov. 4 speech that he had 'won' the American election, Trump supporters have become divided over the baseless claim.

"We did win this election... This is a fraud on the American public," said Trump in the late-night speech.

The 'fraud' he was referring to were mail-in ballots being counted after Election Day. The President had previously denounced mail-in votes, telling his supporters to instead show up to the polls in-person on Nov. 3.

However, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of voters, the majority Biden supporters, chose instead to vote absentee. 

Trump offered no evidence of the alleged fraud.

His speech came as little suprise to many Americans, after he refused in September to promise a peaceful transfer of power. However, others were suprised by the verosity with which Trump regarded his false victory: after threatening to take the case of absentee votes to the Supreme Court, he filed lawsuits in several swing states to ensure the vote counting be halted. 

Now, with a Biden win becoming increasingly likely, Trump supporters are divided. Some support the President at all costs, whereas others worry that such claims erode away the base of the American democracy, one that hinges on legitmate elections and a peaceful handover of the presidency. 

Fox news network, thought by some to be a mouthpiece for the President, has even distanced itself from Trump's claims, with several normally-ultraconservative reporters undercutting the President's claims with realistic vote counts and reminders to viewers that Trump has not yet produced any evidence to support his claims. 

Conservative politicans have also challenged Trump's claims. Former Republican Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie warned Trump not to "inflame without informing," adding that the President needs to show evidence of voter fraud. 

Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio cryptically tweeted, "Scoundrels, villains, are they who deal in crooked talk," after telling his followers that "Taking days to count legally cast votes is NOT fraud."

Social media users have also flooded platforms with videos of former Arizona Senator and presidential candidate John McCain's concession speech in the 2008 election, which he lost to Barack Obama.

"We have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly," McCain said in the now-viral speech.

"A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love."

Many users remarked that the speech was the epitome of class and respect that any candidate should have for the American political system. 

Other Trump supporters, however, are unwavering in their support for the President, with many remarking that the actions of voting center officials has been suspicious. 

"In Wayne County, poll watchers were kept in the dark with blocked windows & padlocked doors," tweeted Ronna McDaniel, Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. 

Friday, Trump won a lawsuit in Pennsylvania requesting his officials to get a closer look at the vote counting process. 

But his campaign and some supports claim that is not enough, and seek to get absentee ballots counted after Election Day thrown out, claiming there's no way to ensure they weren't postmarked late, or otherwise fraudulent. 

Results of the presidential election are likely to be announced early Sunday, but lawsuits filed on behalf of the Trump campaign could take months to be settled.