Democrats are preparing a rapid response to counter any early victory claims by Donald Trump in the upcoming election, similar to his premature declaration in 2020. According to Harris campaign and Democratic Party officials, if Trump announces an early win, they will flood social media and TV with messages urging patience and support for continued vote-counting.
Trump has mentioned his hope to declare victory on Election Day, though experts warn that full results could take days, especially in close races with possible recounts. The election outcome is generally confirmed by major media outlets after reviewing official vote counts. Premature victory claims are uncommon unless the winner is evidently clear.
Kamala Harris emphasized in an ABC interview that her campaign is ready to counter any attempt by Trump to sway public perception unfairly. While specific details were not disclosed, Democratic officials indicated that the response will focus on public messaging, aiming to ensure the legitimacy of the vote count.
One senior Harris campaign official said they “fully expect” Trump to prematurely declare victory, citing his previous attempt in 2020, which ultimately failed as he lost to Joe Biden. Despite the loss, Trump continues to assert widespread voter fraud claims without evidence.
Trump ally Steve Bannon suggested that Trump should declare victory early. Trump’s campaign stated he would fight for all votes until polls close but did not confirm any plans to declare a premature win. Some Republicans, like donor Bill Bean, hope for a decisive outcome to avoid disputed results.
Since 2020, Trump has strengthened his control over the Republican Party, and this time more conservative leaders may support his claims, unlike the previous election where both parties widely condemned his early declaration. Trump and his supporters have also spent months asserting that Democrats might use non-citizen votes to influence the election, and they are prepared with legal teams to challenge unfavorable results. At rallies, Trump continues to urge his supporters to secure a significant victory to avoid disputes.
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