The Decline and Fall of Donald Trump Episode 1: A premeditated lie lit the fire

[brooklynite]

Axios

Beginning on election night 2020 and continuing through his final days in office, Donald Trump unraveled and dragged America with him, to the point that his followers sacked the U.S. Capitol with two weeks left in his term. This Axios series takes you inside the collapse of a president.

Episode 1: Trump’s refusal to believe the election results was premeditated. He had heard about the “red mirage” — the likelihood that early vote counts would tip more Republican than the final tallies — and he decided to exploit it.

President Trump was almost shouting. He directed his son-in-law and his senior strategist from his private quarters at the White House late on election night. He barked out the names of top Fox News executives and talent he expected to answer to him.

“And anyone else — anyone else who will take the call," he said. “Tell these guys they got to change it, they got it wrong. It’s way too early. Not even CNN is calling it.”

As the clock ticked over into the first minutes of Nov. 4, Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani ranted to top campaign aides: "There's no way he lost; this thing must have been stolen. Just say we won Michigan! Just say we won Georgia! Just say we won the election! He needs to go out and claim victory." Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien later told associates: "That was fucking crazy."

For weeks, Trump had been laying the groundwork to declare victory on election night — even if he lost. But the real-time results, punctuated by Fox’s shocking call, upended his plans and began his unraveling.

[malaise]

1. It began before election night

He said if he lost the election would have been rigged. Indeed he said the same thing in 2016.

[mackdaddy]

3. I agree. WAY before election night.

He has never stopped attacking election integrity.

From before 2016 "If I don't win it was rigged" has been his mantra.

He had that BS Election integrity commission to find the 3 million illegal votes that he lost to Hillary in the popular vote.

He was constantly pulling crap to make it harder for any minority vote such as crippling the Postal service.

Going all the way back he was claiming his tv show was cheated for voting for the Emmy awards.

[malaise]

4. Excellent post

It was ongoing

[onecaliberal]

2. He said repeatedly that he would only accept election results if he won.

[LiberalBrooke]

5. He also said he was entitled to a third term so he never intended to give up power at any time