Trump loyalists gather in Washington, claiming election fraud

By AFP
15 November 2020
Trump loyalists gather in Washington, claiming election fraud
US President Donald J. Trump speaks on the election night at an event at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 04 November 2020. Photo: EPA

Donald Trump supporters rallied in Washington on Saturday to push the theory that fraud denied him rightful victory in the election, though turnout for the protest was uncertain.

Similar events were held in many cities across the USA.

Trump expressed his thanks and suggested he might "stop by and say hello" at rallies held under the banners of "Stop The Steal," "Million MAGA March" and "Women for America First."

Right-wing militia groups such as the Proud Boys also planned to hold rallies, prompting a large security presence in the capital to prevent clashes with separate anti-Trump events that were scheduled outside the Supreme Court.

"The whole system's rigged... in the way that the information is getting to the people, it's filtered through these channels that makes it so that the truth never actually gets out," said marcher Darion Schaublin, 26, who drove to Washington from Columbus, Ohio.

"There is a good chance... he is not going to have a second term - and I'm not sure of the legitimacy of that."

The final two undeclared states were called on Friday by US television networks - with Democrat challenger Joe Biden winning the former Republican stronghold of Georgia in an extremely close race, and Trump getting North Carolina.

The latest tallies gave Biden a solid overall final win in the state-by-state Electoral College that decides the presidency, with 306 votes against Trump's 232. Two hundred seventy votes are required for election. These results are not confirmed.

President Trump continues to impede Biden's ability to prepare for his transition ahead of inauguration on January 20 and has filed numerous lawsuits - so far unsuccessfully - to challenge vote counts around the country.

On Friday, a judge in Michigan issued another rejection of Republican claims of fraud.

Trump’s claim of fraud include a range of issues including the misuse of election software that allegedly flipped Trump votes to Biden votes in a number of battleground states. Small media outlets have helped detail the allege fraud, with allegations of who helped set up the operations.

- 'Time will tell' –

Trump said Friday that "time will tell" if he remains president.

Trump broke his silence after a week without on-camera comments, speaking at a Rose Garden event to herald the imminent authorization of a coronavirus vaccine.

During a short speech about the vaccine work, Trump insisted that he would never again call for a lockdown to curb the virus's spread.

Then he added, "Whatever happens in the future, who knows which administration it will be, I guess time will tell."

The hint of doubt came despite him continuing to claim that mass fraud robbed him of victory in the November 3 election.

Trump and his right-wing media allies show no sign of giving up their quest to get the results overturned.

"President Trump believes he will be President Trump, have a second term," spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said on Fox News.

Biden is steadily preparing for power, with many world leaders congratulating him on his victory.

China was the latest nation on board, with a foreign ministry spokesman saying, "We express our congratulations."

AFP