Donald Trump again refused, Saturday, December 5, to recognize his defeat at his first meeting since the US presidential election, finding the crowds who galvanize him to campaign in a crucial senatorial election because it will decide the balance of power in Washington.
In front of his white-hot supporters, gathered in Georgia, the Republican tribune engaged in a risky balancing act during a speech of nearly two hours. Denying Democrat Joe Biden’s victory, which was declared almost a month ago, he shouted at the “Fraud” in an electoral system “Rigged”, while urging voters in Georgia to mobilize to elect two Republican Senate candidates. “We can fight for the presidency and fight to elect our two formidable senators, and we can do it at the same time”, he assured Valdosta, accompanied by his wife Melania Trump.
Huge stakes
His scrambled message, however, embarrasses Republican executives because it has already sowed doubt among some of his followers, who wonder if it is really worth voting in an election “Rigged”. However, the stakes are immense.
On January 5, two Senate seats, now held by Republicans, will be played in Georgia in a double by-election. If they lose them, the upper house will come under the control of the Democrats, because with 50 seats against 50, the future vice-president Kamala Harris will be able, as provided by the Constitution, to vote to decide the equality. And Joe Biden, who will be invested on January 20, will therefore count on an entirely Democratic Congress to unfold his program.
But if the Republicans retain the majority, the future president will have to deal with a divided Congress, the Senate having in particular the power to block his nominations and his major bills. “If the other side manages to steal these two elections (…), everything you hold dear will be gone”, thundered Donald Trump, alongside outgoing Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler.
“Don’t wait until 2024”
If he recently mentioned a possible new candidacy for the next presidential election, Donald Trump dedicated a good part of his speech to talk about the November 3 election. “I don’t want to wait until 2024, I want to go back three weeks”, he said, half joking. “We did not lose”, he hammered in spite of the results, under enthusiastic cries. “This election was rigged. “
Despite his accusations of fraud, the courts have dismissed a myriad of legal remedies presented by his team of lawyers across the United States. He again sharply criticized the governor of Georgia, who is a Republican and an ex-ally, urging him to check the ballots again. The result of this state has already been certified, giving the victory to Joe Biden by a narrow lead of less than 13,000 votes.
