■ TRUMP'S FALSE CLAIMS OF FRAUD ECLIPSE EFFORTS TO BUILD POLITICAL BRIDGES

In his first week as POTUS, Trump fails to provide evidence of election fraud

What was supposed to be a lighthearted gathering at the White House of both Democratic and Republican congressional leaders was overshadowed by United States President Donald Trump’s repeated assertion that he won the popular vote. Trump again claimed the reason he’d lost the popular vote was that three to five million immigrants illegally living in the US had voted. He has previously tweeted the claim but failed to present verifiable proof. This is the fact: Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million votes, but lost in the electoral college votes.

President Donald Trump’s efforts to build bridges and push through his agenda were overshadowed again with his continued fixation on the election and more false claims.

During a bipartisan reception with lawmakers at the White House Monday evening, Trump claimed the reason he’d lost the popular vote to his Democratic rival was that 3 million to 5 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally had voted. That’s according to a Democratic aide familiar with the exchange who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting.

There is no evidence to support Trump’s claim.

After a contentious weekend, Trump began his first full week as president bounding from one ornate room of the White House to another as he played host to business, labor and Congressional leaders. Again and again, he ordered aides to summon journalists from their West Wing workspace at a moment’s notice for unscheduled statements and photo opportunities.

Among those meetings: a reception at the White House for congressional leaders of both parties, with plenty of meatballs and small talk.

Trump on Tuesday will continue his outreach efforts as he meets with executives from the auto industry. He’ll also speak by phone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet with his newly sworn-in CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

But what was supposed to be a lighthearted get-together was overshadowed by Trump’s debunked assertion about the popular vote.

Trump’s comments were similar to claims he made on Twitter in late November that he had won the electoral college in a “landslide” and “won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.” Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million votes despite losing the electoral college. There is no evidence that voter fraud significantly affected the vote. /