President Trump prematurely and inaccurately declared that he won multiple battleground states.
Trump, who is facing an uphill battle to reach the 270 Electoral College votes necessary to win the election, stated on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon that he won North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and possibly Michigan.
At the time, no media outlet had called any of the first three states for either him or Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, while multiple outlets have called Michigan for the former vice president.
“We have claimed, for Electoral Vote purposes, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (which won’t allow legal observers) the State of Georgia, and the State of North Carolina, each one of which has a BIG Trump lead. Additionally, we hereby claim the State of Michigan if, in fact,…..,” the president tweeted. “…..there was a large number of secretly dumped ballots as has been widely reported!”
The president’s campaign has filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and it is demanding a recount in Wisconsin, which has been called for Biden. The campaign also declared victory in Pennsylvania shortly before the president’s social media post.
Most of the Electoral College map has been determined as of Wednesday afternoon, and Biden clearly has an easier path to the White House. The Associated Press shows Biden with 248 electoral votes, but the outlet has not called Michigan yet. So far, Fox News and CNN have announced that Biden won Michigan.
A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to secure victory. Nevada, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina have yet to be called, and the Trump campaign believes Arizona and its 11 electoral votes may yet swing the president’s way.
