DONE TRUMP HOLDS COURT
GOING OUT ALL LAWYERS BLAZING DESPITE PLEAS FROM FAMILY AND REPUBLICAN ROYALTY
ALLIES and Republican royalty are urging Donald Trump to accept he has lost the White House even as he plans more legal challenges.
The US President gave a thumbs up from the back seat as he headed home after hitting the fairways of his golf course in Sterling Virginia on Monday Sydney time.
He was greeted by a protester holding a sign emblazoned with the words “orange crushed” as he entered the same golf course where he learned on Sunday he had lost the votecount.
In a blow, Mr Trump’s close friend and adviser, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, broke ranks with allies and said evidence of the claimed electoral fraud should be produced or it was time to “move on”.
“It was so important early on to say to the president, ‘ If your basis for not conceding is that there was voter fraud, then show us. Because if you can’t show us, we can’t do this. We can’t back you blindly without evidence,” Christie told the ABC in the US.
“I’m hoping that more Republicans move in the direction of saying, not that we don’t support the president, he’s been a friend of mine for 20 years, but friendship doesn’t mean that you’re blind.
“Friendship means that you’ll listen to somebody, give them their opportunity, and if they don’t come forward with the proof, then it’s time to move on.”
While establishment Republicans such as former president George W. Bush and Mitt Romney yesterday swung behind Joe Biden as 46th president, a shrinking circle of stalwarts were urging Mr Trump to fight on.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for patience as counting continued, and Senator Lindsey Graham urged a “hard fight”.
“We will work with Biden if he wins, but Trump has not lost,” Mr Graham said.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz said Mr Biden’s victory had been “way premature”.
“I believe President Trump still has a path to victory,” Mr Cruz said. “And that path is to count every single legal vote that was cast, but also not to ( count) any votes that were fraudulently passed or illegally cast, and we have a legal process to determine what’s legal and what isn’t.”
First lady Melania Trump weighed in, knocking down reports that she was urging her husband to step down.
“The American people deserve fair
elections,” she tweeted. “Every legal – not illegal – vote should be counted. We must protect our democracy with complete transparency.”
Her measured words stood in contrast to divisive comments from her predecessor, Michelle Obama.
“I’m beyond thrilled that my friend @ JoeBiden and our first Black and IndianAmerican woman Vice President, @ KamalaHarris, are headed to restore some dignity, competence, and heart at the White House. Our country sorely needs it,” she posted on Twitter.
But she then criticised the 71 million Americans who supported Mr Trump.
“Let’s remember that tens of millions of people voted for the status quo, even when it meant supporting lies, hate, chaos and division,” she said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do to reach out to these folks … and connect with them on what unites us.”
Mr Bush released a statement after calling Presidentelect Biden, saying that while Mr Trump had every right to pursue his legal challenges, it was important for the country to “come together”.
“Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country. The President- elect reiterated that while he ran as a Democrat he will govern for all Americans,” Mr Bush said.
“President Trump has the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges, and any unresolved issues will be properly adjudicated.
“The American people can have confidence that this election was fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld, and its outcome is clear.”
Between golfing, Mr Trump issued more angry tweets about how Democrat officials were “thieves”. “The big city machines are corrupt. This was a stolen election,” he tweeted.
“We should look at the votes. We’re just beginning the tabulation stage. We should look at these allegations. We’re seeing a number of affidavits that there has been voter fraud.”
He then complained about the US practice of media companies calling elections: “Since when does the Lamestream Media call who our next president will be?”