Trump repeats claims that ‘legal’ votes will show him winning
(CNN and KION) President Donald Trump repeated claims that a count of legally cast ballots would show him winning the presidential election on Thursday, using the White House briefing room to espouse claims that he is being deprived the presidency by fraud.
"If you count the legal votes I easily win," Trump said, providing no evidence for his claim. "If you count the illegal votes, they can try to steal the election from us."
His message came as new tallies show his lead dwindling in Georgia and Pennsylvania. While Trump retains a pathway to 270 electoral votes, it is growing smaller.
Trump said he was advocating for a halt in counting of "votes that came in late," and went on to tout races that had already been called for him.
"I've already decisively won many critical states, including massive victories," he claimed.
The President had not been seen in public since his middle-of-the-night speech on Wednesday. Aides believed his rival Joe Biden's public appearances on Wednesday and Thursday might prompt Trump to push harder to do the same.
New vote tallies in Pennsylvania and Georgia on Thursday showed Trump's lead shrinking, even as he made small gains on Biden in Arizona.
There has been no credible evidence of widespread voter fraud in this year's contest.
PREVIOUS STORY: The Trump Campaign announced that it will be holding a press conference in Phoenix, Arizona as election officials continue to count votes.
In Arizona, former Vice President Joe Biden is currently leading with 50.5% of the vote, and trump is coming in at 48.1%. The Associated Press and Fox News have already called Arizona for Biden, but other news outlets are waiting to make that call.
Arizona has a history of leaning Republican, but the state has seen changing demographics, including a growing Latino population and new residents, many coming from California.
Last night, members of the group AZ Patriots entered the Maricopa County Recorder's Office in Phoenix before being kicked out, but they stayed in the parking lot calling for every vote to be counted.
Rep. Debbie Lesko, former Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWitt, Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward and President of Citizens United David Bossie will be joining the Trump campaign at the Republican Party of Arizona for the conference.
