SOME REPUBLICANS, AND POPE, SAY BIDEN IS PRESIDENT- ELECT
WASHINGTON — The most powerful Republicans in Washington stood firmly behind President Donald Trump and his unsupported claims of voter fraud on Thursday, but new cracks emerged among GOP leaders elsewhere who believe it’s time for the administration to treat Democrat Joe Biden like the president- elect he is.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who endorsed Trump’s reelection, became the latest Republican official to say what Trump and his allies refuse to accept. The GOP governor acknowledged that Biden’s lead is getting “bigger and bigger by the day” and Trump’s legal options are dissipating.
“Joe Biden is the president- elect, and I think like most Americans, we suspect he’ll be taking the oath of office in January,” Sununu told reporters, insisting there was no legal fraud in his state, which Biden easily carried.
Just a handful of the Senate’s 53 and five of the 28 Republican governors had publicly recognized Biden as the president- elect as of Thursday afternoon. Republican leaders believe they need to keep Trump and his base happy and engaged ahead of two upcoming Georgia runoff elections that will determine the Senate majority.
Pope Francis speaks with Biden
It’s not exactly divine intervention, but even the pope considers the presidential race over. Pope Francis spoke with Biden on Thursday.
Biden’s transition team said in a statement that the president- elect thanked Francis for “extending blessings and congratulations and noted his appreciation.” He also saluted the pontiff’s “leadership in promoting peace, reconciliation, and the common bonds of humanity around the world.”
Biden said he hopes to work with Francis on issues such as climate change, poverty and immigration.
Biden has had several phone calls this week with foreign leaders, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. They have congratulated him and consider the election settled.