Trump and his aides are reportedly 'very anxious' Fox News will call Pennsylvania, clinching Biden victory
President Trump's lead in Pennsylvania has shrunk to less than a percentage point, about 24,000 votes, as of Thursday evening, and the remaining, mostly mail-in ballots are believed to heavily favor Democrat Joe Biden. If Biden wins Pennsylvania, as seems very likely at this point, he is unofficially president-elect. Trump and his advisers are reportedly fixated on the possibility that Fox News, and its aggressive election decision desk, will crown Biden the winner sooner rather than later.
Trump and his advisers are still furious at Fox News for calling Arizona on election night — The Associated Press is the only news organization that has so far followed suit, and it looks like the race will end up being very close — in part because it "gummed up the visuals for his premature claim of victory on election night," David Siders reports at Politico. "Fox viewers could see the Electoral College vote count for themselves: at that point, Biden with 238 votes, Trump with 213. If Biden wins Pennsylvania or, less likely, Georgia, then the mystery surrounding Arizona no longer matters."
Regardless of how Biden wins — Pennsylvania, Arizona plus Nevada or Georgia — Trump has no plans to concede, CBS News reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump has publicly and baselessly called the expected shift in vote tallies toward Biden election theft, raising concerns about a peaceful transfer of power should Biden ultimately prevail. But Trump former White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, tried to tamp that down Thursday, telling CNBC that "if the process runs, and I expect it to run, and at the end of that process Joe Biden's the president, you can absolutely guarantee a peaceful transition of power. I just hope the same is true on the other side."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published