Trump Falsely Claims He Won ‘By A Lot’ After Telling Biden Not To ‘Wrongfully’ Declare Victory
BY A LOT #BYALOT
Topline
President Donald Trump on Saturday incorrectly claimed he won the 2020 election “by a lot” just hours after calling on Democratic candidate Joe Biden not to “wrongfully” claim victory despite the latter being on track to win.
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 05: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the briefing room at the White … [+] House on November 5, 2020 in Washington, DC. Votes are still being counted two days after the presidential election as Incumbent Trump is in a close race against challenger Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, which remains too close to call. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Getty Images Key Facts
“I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!” Trump tweeted, even as the New York Times shows Biden leading in the national popular vote by more than 4 million votes and holding a 50.5% majority.
Biden is also on the cusp of an electoral college victory with growing leads in Pennsylvania, Nevada and Georgia, any of which could put him over the necessary 270 votes to win the White House.
Perhaps sensing that inevitability, Trump on Friday evening called on Biden not to “wrongfully claim the office of the President,” adding “I could make that claim also,” a strange hypothetical given he did make that claim on Wednesday morning.
In his remarks later that evening, Biden predicted he would win but stopped short of declaring victory, touting his “clear” popular vote majority, claiming a “mandate for action” and calling on people to “put the anger and demonization behind us” after a brutal race.
“I hope to be talking to you tomorrow,” Biden concluded his remarks, echoing Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), one of his closest allies, who said he expects Pennsylvania to be called for Biden on Saturday.
Forbes has reached out to the Biden campaign for comment.
Big Number
306. That’s the number of electoral votes Biden is on track to win if he maintains his lead in Nevada, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Trump won the same exact number of electoral votes in 2016, which he described as a “massive landslide victory.”
Chief Critic
“At the end of the day, we all must respect the outcome of our elections. The American people must have confidence in our government and trust the American electoral system,” tweeted Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), one of several Republican lawmakers who have broken publicly with the president on the election results.
What To Watch For
Biden winning the presidency has rapidly become a question of “when,” rather than “if,” even as Trump’s campaign seeks to block mail-in votes from being counted and vows recounts in states where the margins are tight. As more votes are counted in Nevada and Pennsylvania, a call for Biden may be imminent.