As the 2020 Presidential Election draws closer, the repercussions of Donald Trump’s intensified efforts to dispute its results continue to emerge. On Thursday, the President went one step further, retweeting an article from a widely discredited computer scientist who believes the election will be rigged.
The segment of the report he shared, by conservative computer scientist Jovan Pulitzer, warned that there is evidence of widespread election fraud. This claim has been debunked by a number of election experts, including the Washington Post, which called the story “a mix of false, misleading and unsubstantiated claims.”
Despite the widespread criticism, Trump’s decision to highlight the article demonstrates his willingness to pursue every angle to question the election results. It also shines a light on the deep divisions that exist within his inner circle of advisors.
On one side, some aides are encouraging the President to voice legitimate concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. On the other, others are warning that his actions only reinforce the narrative that he is attempting to subvert democracy in order to remain in the White House.
The Trump team has also been suddenly aware that even if his personal opinion of the election mechanics is noted, it will not prevent a transition of power. Trump’s legal team’s efforts to challenge the election results through numerous court filings have repeatedly failed.
The President’s repeated promotion of unlikely theories of voter fraud may have become a game of political calculus that allows him to claim a broader base of support as well as to feed into established feelings of grievance among his supporters. The perception that the election and the process is “rigged” could help to encourage higher voter turnout on Trump’s side.
It is uncertain how Trump’s actions, and those of his advisors, will affect the November election. However, divisions within his circle have become increasingly visible, and will continue to shape the electoral landscape in the weeks ahead.
