Headline RoundupNovember 2nd, 2020

Trump Says He Won't Declare Early Victory, May Start Legal Battle Against Counting Late Ballots

Donald Trump, Election 2020, Elections, Voting Rights And Voter Fraud

Summary from the AllSides News Team

On Sunday evening, President Donald Trump denied an Axios report saying he'd declare early victory on Election Day, but suggested he might pursue a lawsuit against counting ballots received after Nov. 3. The president went on to say he thought it was a "terrible thing" when states are permitted to tabulate ballots after the election, and that "as soon as that election's over, we're going in with our lawyers." Trump advisor Jason Miller also said Sunday morning that the Trump administration may begin a legal battle against including ballots counted after Election Day, saying he believed the electoral college would decide the election on Tuesday. Some states, including swing states Pennsylvania and North Carolina, have extended their ballot deadlines until after Nov. 3. Coverage from right-rated sources tended to focus on Trump's claim that the Axios report was false. Some outlets across the spectrum focused on the likelihood and potential outcomes of a Trump administration lawsuit to stop mail-in ballots from being counted after Election Day.

Featured Coverage of this Story

From the Left

Trump Can’t Just “Declare Victory”

Slate

See rating details

Slate

Opinion

Just count the damn votes.

We are nearing the end of a ridiculous pandemic-laden election season, where we may hit record turnout despite the most blatant attempt to suppress the vote in a generation. More than 90 million people have already voted, and we may reach a record turnout of over 150 million on Election Day. I am sure we would have exceeded that number by millions more votes if President Donald Trump and Republicans had not fought efforts around the country to make voting during the pandemic a little...

Open on Slate

Possible Paywall

From the Left

Scoop: Trump's plan to declare premature victory

Axios

See rating details

News

President Trump has told confidants he'll declare victory on Tuesday night if it looks like he's "ahead," according to three sources familiar with his private comments. That's even if the Electoral College outcome still hinges on large numbers of uncounted votes in key states like Pennsylvania.

The latest: Speaking to reporters on Sunday evening, Trump denied that he would declare victory prematurely, before adding, "I think it's a terrible thing when ballots can be collected after an election. I think it's a terrible thing when states are allowed to tabulate...

Open on Axios

From the Right

Trump won't declare early victory but will go 'in with our lawyers' after the election

Washington Examiner

See rating details

News

President Trump said a report that claimed he would declare an early victory on election night if it looks like he's ahead was "false," but he will be prepared to start a legal battle to cut off collecting ballots.

"No, no, that was a false report," Trump told reporters Sunday night.

Three sources familiar with the president's private comments told Axios the president has considered the scenario over the past few weeks, saying that he would "walk up to a podium on election night and declare he's won."

The president's...

Open on Washington Examiner

Possible Paywall

More headline roundups