Trump stops raging, but is ready to run again in 2024
SUPPORTERS of US President Donald Trump mobbed his motorcade yesterday, even as he appeared ‘on the brink’ of finally conceding the election to Joe Biden.
But there has been mounting speculation he will immediately announce a re-election bid for 2024 if his legal actions, as expected, fail to overturn the result.
Crowds convinced that Mr Trump should remain in the White House marched on Washington DC yesterday in what was dubbed the Million MAGA March, incorporating the acronym for the his Make America Great Again slogan. And as the President drove past on his way to his golf course, he gave them a thumbs-up.
A few hours earlier, Mr Trump had tweeted: ‘Heartwarming to see all of the tremendous support out there... including a big one on Saturday in DC. I may even try to stop by and say hello.’
In an echo of the row over the size of the crowd at Mr Trump’s inauguration, his press secretary Kayleigh McEnany claimed that a million marchers had descended on Washington. But media reports put the number of a low number of thousands.
Despite his apparent good cheer, Mr Trump has failed to gain any legal headway in his effort to block Mr Biden from taking office on
‘Don’t underestimate the humiliation of this loss’
January 20. In the clearest sign yet that he may be preparing to admit defeat, Mr Trump told reporters on Friday that ‘time will tell’ if he will leave the White House.
Appearing in public for just the second time since the election to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, he said: ‘This administration will not be going to a lockdown. Hopefully... whatever happens in the future, who know which administration it will be? I guess time will tell.’
A White House source confirmed to The Mail on Sunday that Mr Trump does appear to have accepted that he has lost.
‘He’s not raging like he was last weekend. As the week has gone on, it has become clearer and clearer to everyone, including the President, that he doesn’t stand a chance of legally overturning the election results.
‘He’s on the brink of conceding. The narrative has changed to looking ahead to what he will do next.’
Mr Trump’s former press secretary Anthony Scaramucci said: ‘He is extremely angry, extremely upset. Don’t underestimate the humiliation of this loss.’
Lawyers for the President last week lost legal challenges in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Another was withdrawn in Arizona.
Meanwhile, a Philadelphia law firm hired by Mr Trump’s team abandoned him after facing a backlash from its own employees.
The final two states to declare their vote tallies, Georgia and North Carolina, announced their results on Friday. Mr Trump won North Carolina and Mr Biden was victorious in Georgia, the first time a Democrat has won that state in 28 years.
Mr Biden beat his rival by 5.3million in the popular vote and took 306 electoral college votes, the same number won by Mr Trump in the 2016 election, when he described his victory over Hillary Clinton as ‘a landslide.’
In a further indication that he is preparing to concede, Mr Trump has asked aides if he is able to pardon himself against any possible criminal charges which might be brought once he leaves the Oval Office. He is facing a tax investigation in New York and the Trump Organisation is being probed amid allegations of money laundering and fraud.
The President has denied any wrongdoing and labelled the investigation ‘the worst witch-hunt ever’. Legally there is nothing to prevent him issuing a presidential pardon for himself or other close family members, including sons Don Jr and Eric, whose business dealings are also under scrutiny.
President Richard Nixon was pardoned by successor Gerald Ford after resigning because of the Watergate scandal.
The insider said: ‘There may be an argument in President Trump pardoning himself so the country can move on. He is already talking about running in 2024. It’s unlikely he will ever say the word “defeat”. He will continue to push the notion the election was stolen from him to position himself for a comeback.’
As well as another run at the White House, there has been speculation that Mr Trump could create a new TV network
Eliot Cohen, a senior State Department official during the George W
Bush administration, believes the President has no plan beyond ‘flailing around because he finds it psychologically difficult to accept loss’.
Meanwhile, there are unsubstantiated claims that Mr Trump is stoking a bogus furore over the result to raise funds to pay off his campaign debts.
His team is sending out scores of daily messages asking for donations. ‘They are trying to STEAL this Election,’ read one last week, but the small print says funds could pay off debts
Defying his 77 years, PresidentElect Joe Biden took a cycle ride yesterday as he broke off from preparing for office. He was spotted, wearing a mask, in a park in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where his family owns a holiday home. After Mr Biden was seen riding a bike in the summer Mr Trump said: ‘I’ll never be riding a bicycle’ as he feared injuries.