Donald Trump plans to declare victory prematurely if ‘ahead’ on election night, report says
- Axios says president planning to claim a win ‘even if Electoral College outcome still hinges on large numbers of uncounted votes’
- Trump won’t ‘steal’ election, rival Joe Biden warns, adding that president is trying to suppress voter turnout because he is ‘terrified of what will happen’
US President Donald Trump is preparing to declare an early victory in Tuesday’s US election if he appears to be ahead, according to a report by Axios.
The news website said Trump had told associates he intends claim a win “even if the Electoral College outcome still hinges on large numbers of uncounted votes in key states like Pennsylvania”.
For such a move, the president is expected to need wins or “commanding leads” in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Iowa, Arizona and Georgia, according to Axios.
Asked about the comments, Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh told Axios “this is nothing but people trying to create doubt about a Trump victory”.
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The report, which cites private conversations from three sources with connections to Trump, prompted a warning from Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
“My response is the president is not going to steal this election,” he told reporters during a campaign stop in Philadelphia.