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US Election 2020: Trump alleges 'shenanigans' as Biden urges calm US Election 2020: Trump alleges 'shenanigans' as Biden urges calm
(about 4 hours later)
Speaking from the White House after not being seen for two days, Donald Trump lashed out at the electoral process Speaking from the White House after not being seen for two days, Donald Trump slammed the electoral process
US President Donald Trump has accused Democrats of voting "shenanigans" as the result from Tuesday's White House election hangs in the balance. US President Donald Trump has doubled down on unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, accusing Democrats of voting "shenanigans".
His Democratic challenger Joe Biden earlier appealed for calm as the nail-biting count drags on in five states. The result of Tuesday's election hangs in the balance, with counting still under way in several key states.
While clinging to wafer-thin leads in Nevada and Arizona, Mr Biden has been chewing into the Republican president's edge in Pennsylvania and Georgia. Democrat Joe Biden has a slender lead in Nevada and Arizona and is chipping away at Mr Trump's advantage in Georgia and Pennsylvania.
Mr Biden has appealed for calm as the nail-biting count drags on.
The Democrat now has 253 electoral college votes, while Republican Mr Trump has 214. To win the White House, a candidate needs 270.
The cliff-hanger follows one of the bitterest campaigns in living memory.The cliff-hanger follows one of the bitterest campaigns in living memory.
The election is projected to have generated the highest turnout since 1900. Mr Biden has so far pulled in well over 73 million votes, the most ever for a US presidential candidate. Mr Trump has drawn almost 70 million, the second-highest tally in history. What did the candidates say?
Speaking from the White House on Thursday, the president said: "If you count the legal votes, I easily win. If you count the illegal votes they can try to steal the election from us."
Beyond allegations of irregularities, the Trump campaign has not presented any evidence of election fraud.
Trump's unsubstantiated voting fraud claims explained
The president added: "We were winning in all the key locations, by a lot actually, and then our numbers started getting miraculously whittled away in secret and they wouldn't allow legally permissible observers."
"There's been a lot of shenanigans and we can't stand for that in our country," he said.
Mr Trump actively discouraged his supporters from voting by mail, while Mr Biden urged his voters to do so, and it is these postal ballots that are now being tallied in the key states.
Latest updates: Election hinges on swing statesLatest updates: Election hinges on swing states
US election results in maps and chartsUS election results in maps and charts
Tables turned as Trump voters start to worryTables turned as Trump voters start to worry
What did Trump say? Election analysts also say the president's claims of Democratic electoral corruption are undermined by the better-than-expected performance of his fellow Republicans in congressional races across the map.
In his first public remarks since appearing at the White House in the early hours of Wednesday, the president said: "If you count the legal votes, I easily win. Several US networks cut their feeds of Mr Trump's speech, while numerous Republicans criticised the remarks.
"If you count the illegal votes they can try to steal the election from us."
Beyond allegations of irregularities, the Trump campaign has not presented any evidence of election fraud.
'All of a sudden Trump's losing? Come on''All of a sudden Trump's losing? Come on'
Speaking from the White House on Thursday, the president added: "We were winning in all the key locations, by a lot actually, and then our numbers started getting miraculously whittled away in secret and they wouldn't allow legally permissible observers." Maryland Governor Larry Hogan tweeted that there was "no defence" for the president's comments "undermining" America's democratic process.
Mr Trump's critics have pointed out his lead is evaporating because he actively discouraged his supporters from voting by mail, while Mr Biden urged his voters to do so, and it is these postal ballots that are now being tallied in the key states. In a brief televised address, Mr Biden appealed for calm across the country and again expressed confidence he would be declared the winner.
The president added: "There's been a lot of shenanigans and we can't stand for that in our country." "Democracy is sometimes messy," he said. "It sometimes requires a little patience as well."
Election analysts have argued that the president's claims of Democratic electoral corruption are undermined by the better-than-expected performance of his fellow Republicans in congressional races across the map.
What's the reaction?
Some Republicans who have in the past raised rare dissent against the president implicitly criticised his latest remarks.
Mitt Romney, the Utah senator who lost as the Republican presidential nominee in 2012, said: "The votes will be counted. If there are irregularities alleged, they will be investigated and ultimately resolved in the courts.
Trump's unsubstantiated voting fraud claims explained
"Have faith in our democracy, in our Constitution, and in the American people."
Also without naming the president, Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger said: "If you have legit concerns about fraud present evidence and take it to court. Stop spreading debunked misinformation... This is getting insane."
But Texas congressman Will Hurd, a Republican who did not seek re-election, was more forthright, calling Mr Trump's comments "dangerous" and "wrong".
And Maryland Governor Larry Hogan tweeted: "There is no defence for the President's comments tonight undermining our Democratic process."
However, Georgia Senator David Perdue tweeted that "every lawful vote cast should be counted, once", and then the president would win.
What did Biden say?
Earlier on Thursday, speaking from his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Mr Biden appealed for calm across the country.
In a brief televised address, the Democratic challenger again expressed confidence he would be declared the winner.
"Democracy is sometimes messy," he said. "It sometimes requires a little patience as well.
"Each ballot must be counted": Joe Biden calls for patience with the election result"Each ballot must be counted": Joe Biden calls for patience with the election result
"But that patience has been rewarded now for more than 240 years, the system of governance that has been the envy of the world." "The process is working. The count is being completed. And we'll know very soon."
He added: "I asked everyone to stay calm. All people to stay calm. The process is working. The count is being completed. And we'll know very soon."
As results gradually trickle in, protests involving both sides have been held in major cities over the vote counting.As results gradually trickle in, protests involving both sides have been held in major cities over the vote counting.
Embattled president lashes out
Donald Trump took to the White House press room on Thursday night in an attempt to project strength, but his comments belied the weakness of his current electoral position.
He focused on states he had won. And he talked about the leads he'd had in key swing states on Tuesday night, claiming without substantiation that they were being taken away from him now by fraud.
It was an acknowledgement, however, that those leads are vanishing - and could be gone soon.
He lashed out at pollsters, ballot-counters and Democrats and promised a flurry of lawsuits, although he presented no evidence of electoral misconduct.
He claimed ballots were being counted without observers (even though they are) and attributed the late surge by Mr Biden in mail balloting to fraud (it isn't).
Already Republican officeholders are distancing themselves from Mr Trump's remarks, perhaps wary of tying themselves too closely to a man could be on the precipice of defeat.
What's the current state of the race?What's the current state of the race?
Tuesday's presidential election yielded no immediate results in the states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina.Tuesday's presidential election yielded no immediate results in the states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina.
Mr Biden has since been declared the winner of Michigan and likely Wisconsin, while nail-biting vote counts involving razor-thin margins have kept America on edge in the other five states. Mr Biden has since been declared the winner of Michigan and likely Wisconsin, while vote counts involving razor-thin margins are continuing in the other five states.
Mr Biden now has 253 electoral college votes in the race to accumulate the 270 needed to win the White House under the state-by-state US election system. Mr Trump has 214.
Trump sons attack Republicans for 'weak' backing
A win in just Pennsylvania or two of the other four remaining states would be enough to confirm Mr Biden as president-elect, barring any legal challenge.A win in just Pennsylvania or two of the other four remaining states would be enough to confirm Mr Biden as president-elect, barring any legal challenge.
Mr Trump, meanwhile, needs to win Pennsylvania and three of the remaining four states.Mr Trump, meanwhile, needs to win Pennsylvania and three of the remaining four states.
A senior Trump administration official told the BBC's US partner CBS News that Mr Trump did not plan to concede if Mr Biden ultimately declared victory. Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar told a press conference that most ballots would be counted by Friday, but the race was still too tight to declare a result. Mr Trump is now leading in the state by fewer than 20,000 votes.
Mr Trump's team has raised millions of dollars for litigation. In Georgia, the two candidates are now virtually neck and neck, with Mr Trump's lead cut to about 600 votes. Authorities hope to have a result later on Friday.
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, meanwhile, predicted in a webinar hosted by a think tank earlier on Thursday that Mr Trump would "absolutely" run for president again in 2024 if he lost to Mr Biden. Mr Trump has cut the Democratic candidate's lead in Arizona to about 7,000 votes. The BBC's partner CBS News has categorised the state as a "likely" win for Mr Biden.
What's the latest on counting? Mr Trump had a lead of more than 76,000 in North Carolina with 96% of votes tallied.
Elections officials have also been calling for patience.
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar told a press conference that most ballots would be counted by Friday, but the race was still too tight to declare a result.
"It's very close in Pennsylvania, right, there's no question," she said on Thursday. "That means it's going to take longer to see who the winner is."
Mr Trump was leading in Pennsylvania by fewer than 23,000 votes with 96% of ballots tallied.
In Georgia, Mr Trump led by 1,800 votes with virtually all ballots counted.
Gabriel Sterling, a spokesman for Georgia's Secretary of State, said he had seen no evidence of voter fraud, adding that election officials were "doing extremely well" under pressure.
In Arizona, Mr Biden's lead was steadily eroding and was at about 46,000 votes with 91% of votes tallied.
CBS has categorised it as a "likely" win for the Democrat. Supporters of Mr Trump gathered on Thursday outside a vote-counting centre in Maricopa County.
Mr Trump had a lead of over 76,000 in North Carolina with 96% of votes tallied.
In Nevada, Mr Biden had an edge of more than 11,000 over Mr Trump. An election official there said the results from more than 51,000 postal ballots would be updated on Friday.In Nevada, Mr Biden had an edge of more than 11,000 over Mr Trump. An election official there said the results from more than 51,000 postal ballots would be updated on Friday.
A senior Trump administration official told CBS that Mr Trump did not plan to concede if Mr Biden ultimately declared victory.
Who will be the next US president? You decideWho will be the next US president? You decide
Do claims of US postal voting fraud stack up?Do claims of US postal voting fraud stack up?
Full coverage of the US electionFull coverage of the US election
What has Trump said about your country?What has Trump said about your country?
What legal action has the president taken?What legal action has the president taken?
Mr Trump has filed a barrage of lawsuits alleging irregularities and lack of transparency.Mr Trump has filed a barrage of lawsuits alleging irregularities and lack of transparency.
The president demanded a recount in Wisconsin, as is the right of any candidate who comes within one per cent of his rival in total vote there. The president demanded a recount in Wisconsin, as is the right of any candidate who comes within 1% of his rival in total vote there.
But Mr Biden was leading by 20,000 votes in Wisconsin, and election analysts say previous recounts in the state have usually only altered the final tally by a few hundred votes.But Mr Biden was leading by 20,000 votes in Wisconsin, and election analysts say previous recounts in the state have usually only altered the final tally by a few hundred votes.
"What do you mean? They're still counting the votes": Newsnight's Emily Maitlis clashes with Republican Randi Reed"What do you mean? They're still counting the votes": Newsnight's Emily Maitlis clashes with Republican Randi Reed
Trump campaign lawsuits filed in Michigan and Georgia were tossed out by state courts on Thursday. In the Georgia case a judge found no evidence to support a claim that 53 late ballots were improperly added to late ones. Trump campaign lawsuits filed in Michigan and Georgia were tossed out by state courts on Thursday. In the Georgia case a judge found no evidence to support a claim that 53 late ballots had been improperly added to late ones.
But in Pennsylvania, the Trump campaign won a legal victory when a state appeals court judge said Republican poll-watchers must be permitted a closer look at ballot processing.But in Pennsylvania, the Trump campaign won a legal victory when a state appeals court judge said Republican poll-watchers must be permitted a closer look at ballot processing.
The campaign later alleged Democrats were defying the ruling by continuing to deny observers access to the counting centre.
The Republican party in Nevada said it had sent a report to the US Department of Justice on what it alleged were "at least 3,062 instances of voter fraud".The Republican party in Nevada said it had sent a report to the US Department of Justice on what it alleged were "at least 3,062 instances of voter fraud".
The party tweeted that thousands of individuals had been identified violating the law by casting ballots after moving out of the state.The party tweeted that thousands of individuals had been identified violating the law by casting ballots after moving out of the state.
At a news conference in Las Vegas on Thursday, former Nevada attorney general Adam Laxalt, a Trump campaign ally, claimed: "We believe that there are dead voters that have been counted."
Biden attorney Bob Bauer said the lawsuits were legally "meritless" and designed "to message falsely about what's taking place in the electoral process".Biden attorney Bob Bauer said the lawsuits were legally "meritless" and designed "to message falsely about what's taking place in the electoral process".
Embattled president lashes out
Donald Trump took to the White House press room on Thursday night in an attempt to project strength, but his comments belied the weakness of his current electoral position.
He focused on states he had won. And he talked about the leads he'd had in key swing states on Tuesday night, claiming without substantiation that they were being taken away from him now by fraud.
It was an acknowledgement, however, that those leads are vanishing - and could be gone soon.
He lashed out at pollsters, ballot-counters and Democrats and promised a flurry of lawsuits, although he presented no evidence of electoral misconduct.
He said ballots were being counted without observers present (even though they are) and attributed the late surge by Mr Biden in mail balloting to fraud (it isn't).
Already Republican officeholders are distancing themselves from Mr Trump's remarks, perhaps wary of tying themselves too closely to a man could be on the precipice of defeat.
"The critical thing is to wait" A lawyer's view on calling the results"The critical thing is to wait" A lawyer's view on calling the results
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