Here’s what Trump had to say…
In a recent conversation with podcaster Lex Fridman, former President Donald Trump acknowledged a new perspective on the 2020 presidential election results. During the episode released on Tuesday, Trump remarked that he “lost by a whisker,” offering a stark contrast to his typical assertions about the election being “rigged.”
When Fridman inquired about Trump’s upcoming debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, the former president initially highlighted his extensive debating experience. Trump noted, “I’ve done a lot of debating and have performed well.” However, his discussion soon shifted to the 2020 election, where he reflected on the votes he received. He stated, “I became president, and in the second election, I received millions more votes than in the first one.” Trump further elaborated, “I was told that with 63 million votes—what I received in my first election—I would win. But I ended up with millions more and lost by a whisker.”
In 2020, Trump garnered approximately 74 million votes, while Joe Biden secured about 81 million. This statement from Trump marks a departure from his usual rhetoric, which often includes claims of a rigged election.
Despite this acknowledgment, Trump later on in the podcast reiterated his doubts about the election’s legitimacy, asserting, “I think the election was a fraud, and many people believed it was, too, and they wanted answers.”
In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Trump and his legal team spent considerable time contesting the results in crucial swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Currently, Trump faces four federal felony charges related to these efforts, including accusations of knowingly spreading false claims about the election. He has indicated that his legal team will plead not guilty during an upcoming court hearing.
Additionally, Trump is confronting criminal charges in Fulton County, Georgia, over his attempts to overturn the state’s election results. With the 2024 presidential election approaching, Republicans are already engaged in legal battles in key states. They have filed lawsuits in Michigan over GOP poll worker hiring and in North Carolina concerning the state’s voter rolls. Democrats have warned that these pre-election legal maneuvers might be intended to cast doubt on the electoral process if Trump faces another loss.
