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| RNC 2020: Trump warns Republican convention of ‘rigged election’ | RNC 2020: Trump warns Republican convention of ‘rigged election’ |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has warned his fellow Republicans their opponents may "steal" November's election, as his party anointed him as their candidate. | US President Donald Trump has warned his fellow Republicans their opponents may "steal" November's election, as his party anointed him as their candidate. |
| "They're using Covid to defraud the American people," Mr Trump told delegates on the first day of the party convention in North Carolina. | "They're using Covid to defraud the American people," Mr Trump told delegates on the first day of the party convention in North Carolina. |
| Mr Trump repeated his much-disputed claims that mail-in ballots could lead to voter fraud. | Mr Trump repeated his much-disputed claims that mail-in ballots could lead to voter fraud. |
| Opinion polls suggest he currently trails Democratic challenger Joe Biden. | Opinion polls suggest he currently trails Democratic challenger Joe Biden. |
| Addressing delegates in person at a party conference that has been dramatically scaled back by Covid-19, Mr Trump accused Democrats of "using Covid to steal an election". | |
| "The only way they can take this election away from us is if this is a rigged election," he said. "We're going to win." | "The only way they can take this election away from us is if this is a rigged election," he said. "We're going to win." |
| Mr Trump also warned of a "rigged" election in 2016, as he trailed Hillary Clinton in the polls. | Mr Trump also warned of a "rigged" election in 2016, as he trailed Hillary Clinton in the polls. |
| As a formality, Mr Trump was officially nominated to be the Republican nominee on Monday at his party's convention in the city of Charlotte. | As a formality, Mr Trump was officially nominated to be the Republican nominee on Monday at his party's convention in the city of Charlotte. |
| The president is due to give a speech to the party convention on Thursday. It is unusual for a candidate to address the convention before their formal acceptance speech. | The president is due to give a speech to the party convention on Thursday. It is unusual for a candidate to address the convention before their formal acceptance speech. |
| Supporters at the convention cheered Mr Trump's remarks, and chanted: "Four more years!" | |
| "Now if you really want to drive them crazy, you say 12 more years," the president interjected. The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1951, says US presidents are only permitted to serve two terms, for a total of eight years in office. | |
| Are mail-in ballots safe? | Are mail-in ballots safe? |
| Mr Trump has repeatedly asserted that expanded mail-in voting - which is expected to be more prevalent this year due to the coronavirus pandemic - will lead to "the most corrupt election" in US history. | |
| But there is scant evidence of widespread voter fraud, and very few examples of prosecutions for the crime. | |
| Ellen Weintraub, commissioner of the Federal Election Commission, has said: "There's simply no basis for the conspiracy theory that voting by mail causes fraud. None." | Ellen Weintraub, commissioner of the Federal Election Commission, has said: "There's simply no basis for the conspiracy theory that voting by mail causes fraud. None." |
| Mail-in voting has been around since the US Civil War, and is used by the US military, and even Mr Trump himself and members of his family. | |
| But a recent slowdown in mail deliveries due to cost-saving measures in the US postal system has led to concerns that ballots will not be returned to state officials by election day. | But a recent slowdown in mail deliveries due to cost-saving measures in the US postal system has led to concerns that ballots will not be returned to state officials by election day. |
| Several states have sought to change their election laws to allow ballots to be counted days after the forthcoming presidential vote, which some analysts fear could lead to delays in determining the presidential winner. | Several states have sought to change their election laws to allow ballots to be counted days after the forthcoming presidential vote, which some analysts fear could lead to delays in determining the presidential winner. |
| A primary election in New York City this June took weeks to determine a winner after poll officials were deluged with 10 times the normal number of mail-in ballots. There was no allegation of fraud, but the debacle raised fears of a lengthy recount this November. | A primary election in New York City this June took weeks to determine a winner after poll officials were deluged with 10 times the normal number of mail-in ballots. There was no allegation of fraud, but the debacle raised fears of a lengthy recount this November. |
| Earlier this month, New Jersey officials ordered a new election after finding evidence of voter fraud in an all-mail-in election that saw four people arrested, including a local city councilman and councilman-elect. The case has been frequently touted by the Trump campaign. | Earlier this month, New Jersey officials ordered a new election after finding evidence of voter fraud in an all-mail-in election that saw four people arrested, including a local city councilman and councilman-elect. The case has been frequently touted by the Trump campaign. |
| What else is happening on the convention's opening night? | What else is happening on the convention's opening night? |
| Republicans said Monday night's theme was "Land of Promise" and pledged their convention would be less "negative" than the Democrats' conference last week. | Republicans said Monday night's theme was "Land of Promise" and pledged their convention would be less "negative" than the Democrats' conference last week. |
| Speaking on Monday is Mr Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, as well as his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle. | Speaking on Monday is Mr Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, as well as his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle. |
| Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley will also speak, as well as South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican senator. | Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley will also speak, as well as South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican senator. |
| US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's plan to address the convention on Tuesday from Israel, where he is on an official trip, has led to sharp criticism about the nation's top diplomat overtly campaigning in a political race while conducting US government business abroad. | US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's plan to address the convention on Tuesday from Israel, where he is on an official trip, has led to sharp criticism about the nation's top diplomat overtly campaigning in a political race while conducting US government business abroad. |
| State department officials told US media that no taxpayer funding went towards the video, which was filmed while Mr Pompeo was visiting the top US ally. | State department officials told US media that no taxpayer funding went towards the video, which was filmed while Mr Pompeo was visiting the top US ally. |
| Mr Trump has also been accused of misusing government resources by making his convention speech from the White House. | Mr Trump has also been accused of misusing government resources by making his convention speech from the White House. |