Trump's 'Fraudulent Election' Claim... Republicans Draw the Line: "Counting Must Continue"

Republican Senate Leader: "Claiming Presidential Victory and Ending Vote Counting Are Different Issues"
"Fraud Claims Are Crazy... Patience Needed Until Results Are Out"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As the counting of the U.S. presidential election enters its third day, the Republican Party is distancing itself from President Donald Trump's claims of a 'fraudulent election' and showing a more restrained stance.

On the 5th (local time), the Associated Press reported, "Republicans are breaking away from President Trump over his pressure to stop the vote count," adding, "Some Republican lawmakers criticize Trump's claims for undermining the fundamental concept that the U.S. political process and all American voters deserve their votes to be counted."

President Trump has been pouring criticism on mail-in voting, claiming that "the election is being rigged." Accordingly, he has filed a series of lawsuits in areas where vote counting is ongoing, such as Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. At a press conference that day, he also hinted that the election could be taken all the way to the federal Supreme Court.

However, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate Majority Leader and Trump's strongest ally who secured his seventh term in this election, told reporters, "Claiming victory in the presidential election is different from finishing the vote count." This shows a difference in tone from President Trump, who suggested contesting the election results up to the Supreme Court.

Some Republican lawmakers directly criticized President Trump. Representative Adam Kinzinger (Illinois) called the election fraud claims "crazy" and pointed out that if President Trump insists on filing lawsuits without substantial evidence, he should stop spreading misinformation.

Senator Marco Rubio (Florida) posted on Twitter regarding Trump's 'fraudulent election' claims, stating, "Taking a few days to count legitimate votes is not fraud." Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) also issued a statement emphasizing, "It is important to count all legitimate votes," urging, "Everyone should be patient until the results are finalized."

Former and current Republican governors also collectively distanced themselves from President Trump's claims. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said, "I support President Trump, but if the conclusion is a victory for candidate Biden, everyone will accept it," and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said, "All votes must be counted."

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan criticized, "President Trump's remarks are absurd, inappropriate, and a terrible mistake." Even Chris Christie, former New Jersey Governor and considered a close ally of President Trump, described Trump's claims of election fraud as "a bad strategy and a bad political decision."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.