Former U.S. President Donald Trump, flanked by attorneys during an arraignment proceeding at Manhattan Criminal Court, has already cast doubt on the integrity of the upcoming 2024 presidential election, claiming it will be “rigged” against him, a stance reminiscent of his past allegations.*
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump expressed frustration, stating, “Isn’t it unfair that I can be running such a great and successful campaign for President, leading in every poll against a corrupt and incompetent President, working so hard in a historic fight to save our Nation, and I have to go through the additional burden of, at the same time, fighting my political opponent’s many DOJ, A.G., and D.A. inspired non-meritorious lawsuits against me.”
Accusing President Biden of orchestrating the legal challenges against him, Trump went on to denounce what he called the “evil act of ELECTION INTERFERENCE,” citing a Wall Street Journal editorial that allegedly warned special counsel Jack Smith about the consequences of indicting a former president. Trump emphatically declared, “THIS IS ALREADY ON ITS WAY TO BEING ANOTHER RIGGED ELECTION!”
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This marks a familiar tactic for Trump, who previously made similar unfounded claims about election rigging in both 2016 and 2020, despite subsequent audits and court cases finding no evidence to support his assertions. Despite these debunked claims, political analysts warn that Trump is laying the groundwork to dispute the 2024 election results if he faces defeat, potentially impacting his supporters’ turnout.
“If supporters feel the election is predetermined, they may decide their own votes do not matter,” cautioned political science professor Rachel Wayner.
There are growing concerns that Trump’s persistent allegations may erode faith in the democratic process. Studies indicate that over 60% of Republicans now believe Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election. As Trump positions himself as the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination, he faces significant challenges, including defending his record, responding to the pandemic, addressing the January 6 attack, and navigating multiple lawsuits.
Moreover, Trump must make a compelling case against a sitting President with notable legislative achievements. With Democrats highly motivated to mobilize against Trump, analysts emphasize that he has little room for error in building a winning coalition, particularly among independent voters who favored Biden by a 10-point margin in 2020.
