Trump Allies Say "Time to Concede"... Signs of Shift Detected

Melania Also Joins... Skepticism Within the Republican Party
"Don't Give Up Despite Objections"... Support for Lawsuits Still Present

▲President Donald Trump [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] As Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, has secured victory, a sentiment of "shouldn't we concede?" is emerging among close aides of President Donald Trump. It has become virtually impossible to overturn the election results through lawsuits, and even within the Republican Party, skeptical reactions are arising regarding election refusal.

According to Bloomberg News and CNN on the 8th (local time), Melania Trump, wife of President Trump, has reportedly joined the internal advice group urging acknowledgment of the election defeat. CNN, citing internal sources, reported, "There is growing opinion among key aides advising that it is time for President Trump to concede," adding, "Melania has also joined this group." Additionally, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Vice President Mike Pence are also known to possibly advise President Trump on the concession issue.

Skeptical reactions are also coming from within the Republican Party. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "We have had peaceful transfers of power since 1972," and "every four years, a new government has taken over," implying that the election results should be accepted. Larry Hogan, Governor of Maryland and a member of the same party, said in an interview with CNN, "Even if legal procedures proceed, it will be difficult to produce results that overturn the election," and added, "Whether we like it or not, it is time to step down now." Senator Roy Blunt appeared on ABC's 'This Week' and said regarding the election results, "It doesn't seem likely there will be changes significant enough to make a big difference," and pointed out, "President Trump's side, which claims election fraud, must present factual evidence to support this."

Jonathan Karl, an ABC reporter, conveyed the atmosphere, saying, "Everyone in the core group, including family, fully knows that it is over," and "Conversations to persuade President Trump to make a 'graceful exit' are taking place through his closest aides, including the First Lady."

However, strong voices insisting on continuing refusal still come from around President Trump. They argue that regardless of any counterarguments, recounts and invalidation lawsuits should not be abandoned, and only if the results do not change after these efforts should they concede.

This stance mainly comes from President Trump's family. The U.S. internet media Axios reported, citing anonymous sources, that Jared Kushner, senior White House advisor and Trump's son-in-law, initially contacted the President not to discuss conceding the election results but to convey the intention to fight against the election outcome. The anonymous source also denied that Kushner urged concession. President Trump's personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, is also known to agree with this position.

Melania Trump also showed support for President Trump by tweeting, "The American people deserve a fair election," and "All legal votes, not illegal ones, must be counted."

President Trump's sons and daughters also appear to maintain the position that they must fight for recounts and invalidation lawsuits. Ivanka, the President's daughter and senior White House advisor, continued to argue for stopping the count, saying, "Illegal votes should not be counted," while eldest son Donald Trump Jr. and second son Eric criticized Republican lawmakers, saying, "We do not support claims of election fraud."

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