Donald Trump has no intention of admitting defeat in the US presidential election or offering Joe Biden his concession, his campaign insisted on Monday.
“That word is not even in our vocabulary right now,” Jason Miller, a senior campaign adviser, told Fox Business.
Trump has launched an array of lawsuits to press claims of electoral fraud and corruption for which he has produced no evidence. State officials say they are not aware of any significant irregularities.
Biden cleared the threshold of 270 electoral college votes needed to win the White House on Saturday. He beat Trump by more than 4.3m votes nationwide, as Trump became the first president in 28 years to lose his bid for re-election.
Biden delivered a victory speech in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday, then unveiled a coronavirus taskforce on Monday.
Traditionally, the losing candidate calls and congratulations the winner, then delivers a concession speech that seeks to unite the country. But far from cooperating in a transition, Trump continues to falsely argue that he is the rightful winner and vow that his team will fight to the end in the courts, mounting long-shot challenges in several states.
We’re going to go and pursue all these legal means, all the recount methods
Jason Miller
In his Fox Business interview, Miller said: “We’re going to go and pursue all these legal means, all the recount methods. We’re going to continue exposing and investigating all these instances of fraud or abuse, and make sure the American public can have full confidence in these elections.”
Miller said he expected recounts in Georgia and Arizona, legal action in Michigan and Wisconsin and sufficient evidence to challenge the outcome in Pennsylvania.
The legal offensive has flopped so far with judges throwing cases out of court for lack of evidence. Trump’s campaign released a dozen emails on Monday seeking donations for an “official election defense fund”. But there was no indication that any new strategy would fare any better.
In a separate interview Tim Murtaugh, communications director of the Trump campaign, told Fox Business: “We have high confidence that as the president pursues his lines of legal recourse – including the recounts in Georgia and Wisconsin, at least – we do feel like there is a runway for the president to win this and win re-election.”
Murtaugh rejected reports that Trump plans to hold campaign-style rallies to push for recounts but promised “grassroots events” such as boat parades to protest Biden’s victory, explaining: “People are upset.”
There is no evidence of fraud in the vote count, which culminated in media networks announcing Biden as the winner.
Trump’s improbable stand against reality appeared to be splitting both his White House and the Republican party.
The president is reportedly being urged by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Miller to keep pushing hard for recounts. The White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and aide David Bossie and said to be encouraging him to consider throwing in the towel.
Melania Trump, the first lady, tweeted on Sunday: “The American people deserve fair elections. Every legal – not illegal – vote should be counted. We must protect our democracy with complete transparency.”
Trump’s stranglehold on his party is such that only a small number have publicly acknowledged his defeat. Among them are the party’s only living former president, George W Bush, its defeated 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and two other senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.
According to a count by the Washington Post, just eight Republicans in the House of Representatives have described Biden as the winner. The bulk of the party has backed Trump’s effort to pursue legal options or have endorsed his conspiracy theories.
Pat Toomey, a Republican senator for Pennsylvania, told CBS News’s Face the Nation on Sunday: “Seventy million Americans voted for Donald Trump, and they and the president deserve to have this process play out. Now, I understand yesterday the media projected how this is going to end and the media projection is probably correct. But there is a reason that we actually do the count.”
America’s interests depend on the federal government signaling that it will respect the will of the American people
Jen Psaki
There was a hint on Monday that the president might bow to the inevitable when the Axios website reported that he “had already told advisers he’s thinking about running for president again in 2024”.
Trump would be eligible to run because presidents are allowed to serve two terms which do not to have to be consecutive. He won more than 70m votes this year, a strong show of resilience. In 2024 he will be 78, the age Biden will reach this month.
Trump’s intransigence has raised fears of a bumpy transition, with little sign of him inviting Biden to the White House in the way Barack Obama held a meeting with him shortly after his shock 2016 victory.
In photos: 2020 US election (Picture Services)
After five days of the counting of votes, former Vice President Joe Biden of the Democratic Party was elected the 46th U.S. president, making Donald Trump the first president to lose re-election in more than a quarter-century. The former’s running mate, Senator Kamala Harris of California, will be the first woman, the first Black person and the first Asian American to serve as vice president. In their victory speeches to the nation, the Democrats stressed upon the need for unity amid diversity. Here are some images from election day and beyond.
Joe Biden and his wife Jill, and Kamala Harris and her husband Doug, react to the confetti at their election rally, after the news media announced that Biden has won the 2020 U.S. presidential election over Trump, in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 7.
Biden gestures at his election rally in Wilmington on Nov. 7.
Harris speaks to supporters after winning the election, in Wilmington on Nov. 7.
People gather in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7.
Supporters celebrate the victory of President-elect Joe Biden in Atlanta, Georgia, on Nov. 7.
Fireworks explode over Black Lives Matter Plaza as people celebrate in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7.
Trump returns to the White House from playing golf in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7, after Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
Supporters of Trump unfurl a giant American flag outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg on Nov. 7.
A man holds a flag as he reacts after media announced that Biden won the presidential election, on Sunset Boulevard in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 7.
People celebrate media announced Biden’s victory, at Times Square in New York City, New York, on Nov. 7.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for Trump, speaks during a news conference on legal challenges to vote counting in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, on Nov. 7.
A journalism student at New York University reacts as she watches President-elect Joe Biden on a monitor in Times Square in New York on Nov. 7, as he addressed the nation. She said, “I think it’s so beautiful because I’m a member of the press, and I can’t believe we won. It means so much to me as an aspiring journalist.”
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris listens as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks in Wilmington on Nov. 6. While addressing the nation, he said, “We’re going to win this race with a clear majority with the nation behind us.”
Police officers stand between protesters supporting Trump (bottom) and people in support of counting all votes, outside of the Philadelphia Convention Center on Nov. 6.
A bar patron watches the news as Biden’s lead increases, at Axelrad Beer Garden in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 6.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks to reporters during her weekly news conference in the House Visitors Center at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 6.
Election workers validate ballots at the Gwinnett County Elections Office in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on Nov. 6.
Election observers stand behind a barrier and watch as election office workers process ballots as counting continues at the Allegheny County elections warehouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 6.
Georgia Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Jon Ossoff speaks to the media as he rallies supporters for a run-off against Republican candidate David Perdue as they meet at Grant Park in Atlanta on Nov. 6.
Clark County Registrar of Voters Joe Gloria discusses ballot counting at a news conference at the Clark County Election Department in North Las Vegas, Nevada, on Nov. 6.
President Trump speaks about the election results in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on Nov. 5.
Activists dressed as the White House, Philadelphia City Hall and the United States Postal Service (USPS) mailboxes stand on a street two days after the election in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 5.
Senator Susan Collins, Republican from Maine, speaks in Bangor, Maine, on Nov. 4 after the election.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (C) speaks during a news conference held to discuss election-related lawsuits at Atlantic Aviation PHL private air terminal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 4.
Trump speaks about early results as Vice President Mike Pence and First Lady Melania Trump look on, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 4.
Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill, speaks to supporters in Wilmington on Nov. 4.
Incumbent Representative Kweisi Mfume, Democrat from Maryland, celebrates his victory in the election for Maryland’s 7th Congressional District seat in Baltimore, on Nov. 3.
Minnesota Republican Chairperson Jennifer Carnahan addresses Trump supporters after Fox News called Minnesota for Joe Biden, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota, on Nov. 3.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, joined by his wife Kristin, reacts after being declared winner over Republican Dan Forest in the governor’s race in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Nov. 3.
Dan Rodimer, Republican candidate in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, speaks with the media at an election night event, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Nov. 3. Rodimer is running against Representative Susie Lee of Democratic Party.
Biden supporters embrace at a Democrat watch party in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 3
Senator Doug Jones, Democrat from Alabama, becomes emotional near the end of his concession speech, during his election night watch party in Birmingham, Alabama, on Nov. 3. Jones lost to Republican Tommy Tuberville.
Senator Dan Sullivan, Republican from Alaska, and his wife, Julie, speak to a crowd of supporters in Anchorage, Alaska, on Nov. 3.
Vietnamese-American supporters of Trump gather for an election watch party in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 3.
Representative Val Demings, Democrat from Florida, speaks to supporters at an election night gathering of family and friends after winning the race for Florida’s 10th congressional district in Orlando, on Nov. 3.
Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly celebrates with wife, Gabby Giffords, former representative from Arizona, and daughters at an election campaign party in Tucson, Arizona, on Nov. 3.
Sen. Steve Daines, (R-Mont.), with his wife Cindy, arrives to address his supporters after his race in Bozeman, Montana, on Nov. 3.
Trump supporters celebrate as Fox News calls Florida for him, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota, on Nov. 3.
People use the lights on their phones as they march on the night of the election in Portland, Oregon, on Nov. 3.
House of Representatives candidate Cori Bush hugs her sister Keli Bush and father Errol Bush at her headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, on Nov. 3.
Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican from South Carolina, speaks at his election night party in Columbia, South Carolina, on Nov. 3.
Poll workers tabulate absentee ballots at the TCF Center in Detroit, Michigan, on Nov. 3.
Empty boxes from Milwaukee’s voting wards are seen on the night of election day as absentee ballots are counted at Milwaukee Central Count in Wisconsin, on Nov. 3.
Poll workers wave flags to bring a voter to their location booth at the Registrar of Voters in San Diego, California, on Nov. 3.
A man wearing a mask gathers with a group in support of Black Voters Matter at the Graham Civic Center polling site in North Carolina, on Nov. 3.
A woman hugs her mother, who is voting for the first time in her life, as they wait in line at a polling place in the Mid City section of New Orleans, Louisiana, on Nov. 3.
A voter holds her son as she marks her ballot in a polling place at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 3.
A sign encouraging social distancing is seen as people wait in line to vote at a polling station inside Knapp Elementary School in Racine, Wisconsin, on Nov. 3.
An election worker empties ballots from a ballot box at the Multnomah County Elections Division in Portland, Oregon, on Nov. 3.
An election official processes absentee ballots at a central count facility in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Nov. 3.
Voters wait in a long line to cast their ballots at Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Nov. 3.
A jogger carries a “Vote!” flag as he passes a polling station in San Antonio, Texas, on Nov. 3.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb gets a high five from Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch following his address after winning a second term as governor in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Nov. 3.
Philadelphia County employees open, sort and count mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania, on Nov. 3.
Voters line up at the John F. Kennedy Library, a Miami-Dade County polling station, in Miami, Florida, on Nov. 3.
Senate Majority Leader and Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, accompanied by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, holds a post-election news conference as he declares victory, in Louisville, Kentucky, on Nov. 3.
A woman votes at the National World War I museum in Kansas City, Missouri, on Nov. 3.
A woman waits to vote at the Cathedral of Praise church in Nashville, Tennessee, on Nov. 3.
Members of a dance group wearing “count the votes” shirts perform in Washington on Nov. 3.
A voter casts his ballot at a polling station on election day in Winchester, Virginia, on Nov. 3.
People line up to vote at a polling station in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, on Nov. 3.
Voters arrive to cast their ballots at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, on Nov. 3.
Poll workers take an oath at Fulton County polling station in Atlanta, Georgia on Nov. 3.
A man tallies the votes from the five ballots cast in Dixville Notch on Nov. 3. Biden received all five votes, and thus registering the first victory on election day.
65/65 SLIDES
The General Services Administration is responsible for formally recognising Biden as president-elect, which begins the transition, but the agency’s Trump-appointed administrator, Emily Murphy, has not started the process or given guidance on when she will do so.
During the election Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power and it remains unclear whether he will instruct his staff to cooperate with the incoming team, as custom demands.
Jen Psaki, a Biden transition aide, tweeted: “America’s national security and economic interests depend on the federal government signaling clearly and swiftly that the United States government will respect the will of the American people and engage in a smooth and peaceful transfer of power.”
The advisory board of the nonpartisan Center for Presidential Transition urged the Trump administration to “immediately begin the post-election transition process and the Biden team to take full advantage of the resources available under the Presidential Transition Act”.
Trump will remain president for more than two months. In a sign of business as usual on Monday, he fired his defense secretary, Mark Esper, while it was revealed that his housing secretary, Ben Carson, tested positive for Covid-19 after attending a crowded election night party at the White House.
![Donald Trump wearing a suit and tie: Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-has-no-intention-of-offering-concession-campaign-insists/"default":"load":"default","w":"80","h":"48","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1aQvfX.img?h=480&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=380&y=173","size3column":"load":"default","w":"62","h":"38","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1aQvfX.img?h=375&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=380&y=173","size2column":"load":"default","w":"62","h":"38","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1aQvfX.img?h=375&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=380&y=173")
More Stories
Federal Business Loans
New In Business
Coronavirus Small Business Relief