As the count continues, the GOP remains divided as some think that President Donald Trump should concede at this time. Others think that the President is right to exhaust all legal remedies. Only then can he make the decision to call it in. Either way, the transition team can wait. The Republican Party seems divided on what to do next.
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As of Monday, the President has yet to concede the elections to his rival, Democrat Joe Biden. His inner circle continues to suggest possible moves to challenge the election count. The team, led by his personal lawyer Rudy Guiliani, will include a request to recount votes in Georgia. The campaign earlier said that Georgia Rep. Doug Collins will lead the state’s recount team.
Republican Leaders Yet to Acknowledge Their Loss
After major news outlets called in Biden’s win, Trump didn’t take the news sitting down. Last weekend, he said in a statement that “The simple fact is this election is far from over.” He added that he “will not rest until the American people have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands.”
Save for a few senior members of the party, GOP leaders have yet to acknowledge losing the elections. Senator Mitch McConnell and other key GOP leaders remain very careful in what to say in public. They do not give direct support to Trump’s claims of election fraud. At the same time, they have supported Trump’s decision to file any cases to support his claims.
Senior Republicans Already Congratulated Biden
While Trump refuses to concede, former President George W. Bush went and did so. Last Sunday, he became the most prominent Republican to do so. Bush thanked him “for the patriotic message he delivered last night.” He also congratulated presumptive Vice President Kamala Harris. Still, Bush said that Trump had “the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges.”
Other well-known Republicans also congratulated Biden. This includes Utah Senator Mitt Romney, Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. The latter said on ABC that the GOP has yet to acknowledge the Democratic party’s victory. He said the delay is because “of the president’s behavior” and advised Trump to concede.
Allegations of Widespread Fraud
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota called out Democrats and the media during ABC’s “This Week.” She claimed “computer glitches” and “dead people voting in Pennsylvania” as examples. “When you break the process on which we elect our leaders, you will break America forever,” the Governor said.
Mr. Christie said he delivered a message for Trump asking for evidence to help back him. It said: “If your basis for not conceding is that there was voter fraud, then show us. Show us. Because if you can’t show us, we can’t do this. We can’t back you blindly without evidence.”
‘Exceedingly Careful’
Senator Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) is part of the team planning for the inauguration. Blunt’s wordings are carefully chosen to reflect the Republican view. Whenever he mentions Biden, he would say “former vice president” and not “president-elect.” Blunt also said that preparations are ongoing for the inauguration. This is so that “that the person who is sworn in on an inaugural day sees it as a great day.”
Blunt is the most senior Republican to suggest that the Democrats have won. He also suggested that by this time, delays are pointless. The chairman of the Senate Rules Committee said on ABC that it’s about time. “It’s time for the president’s lawyers to present the facts, and it’s time for those facts to speak for themselves,” he said. “It seems unlikely that any changes could be big enough to make a difference, but this is a close election, and we need to acknowledge that.” He added: “I look forward to the president dealing with this however he needs to deal with it.”
‘He Will Concede Gracefully’
Former chief of staff Mick Mulvaney opined in the Wall Street Journal that Trump needs time. He said that if Trump loses, he will “concede gracefully.” Until then, the President will “fight hard and make sure the results are fair, and in the end, he’ll accept the results whatever it is.”
Mulvaney wrote: “The president will fight like a gladiator until the election is conclusively determined, and Joe Biden would do the same—not only because it’s their nature, but also because there is so much at stake. More than 150 million Americans registered their preference for the outcome of the election, and all of them are counting on ‘their’ man to do everything he legally can to prevail. Neither candidate is going to throw his hands up before the process is complete and say ‘Oh, well, I tried.’”
Caught between the election and their guy are the Republicans. Some think Trump should concede, while others want the process laid out to remove any doubts about who won. There is no wrong answer. If America can wait, the rest of the world should do.
Watch this as ABC News reports that President Trump refuses to concede:
Loading ...Given the highly charged elections, do you agree that it’s time to acknowledge the winner and get on with our lives? Or do you agree with the President that an honest vote count should continue? Let us know what you think about this situation by sharing your comments below.