Democratic Party - Democratic National Committee

05/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/22/2024 20:16

Trump’s MAGA Veepstakes: Donald Trump Wants an Extreme Election-Denying Running Mate Arrow

In response to Donald Trump indicating he will pick a vice president who agrees with his extreme election denialism, DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd released the following statement:

"Donald Trump is being extremely clear that he wants an election-denying vice president who is fully on board with his plans to try to overturn another election result he doesn't like. Instead of standing up for our democracy, Trump's VP contenders are tripping over themselves to defend his MAGA agenda and refuse to commit to certifying the outcome of the election. No matter which MAGA extremist Trump picks to be his running mate, they'll be just as eager to undermine our democracy at his command."

Donald Trump made it clear he will pick an extreme MAGA election denier to be his running mate this time around because Mike Pence refused to not certify the 2020 election results.

Interviewer: "Do you have any regrets about picking Mike Pence as your vice president? And what will you do differently this time around when you're vetting your VP?"

Trump: "Mike did a good job until the end when he didn't have the courage to do what you have to do. … I believe if he did that, because by that time, a lot was learned about the corruption, if he did that, I believe you would have had different election results."

Trump's VP contenders have lined up behind his extreme election denialism, including parroting his lies about the 2020 election and refusing to commit to accepting this November's election results.

NBC News: "None of these potential vice presidential picks have committed to accepting the 2024 election results, whether Trump wins or loses."

Washington Post: "Top Republicans, led by Trump, refuse to commit to accept 2024 election results"

"The question has become something of a litmus test, particularly among the long list of possible running mates for Trump. …The GOP's desire to appease Trump's fixation on 2020 now appears to loom over his search for a running mate."

New York Times: "Will You Accept the Election Results? Republicans Dodge the Question."

"Less than six months out from the presidential contest, leading Republicans, including several of Donald J. Trump's potential running mates, have refused to commit to accepting the results of the election, signaling that the party may again challenge the outcome if its candidate loses."

MSNBC: "Potential GOP running mates hedge on accepting election results"

"Trump, obviously, is refusing to commit to honoring the election results - the same posture he adopted four years ago - but so are those hoping to be his running mate."

Axios: "Republicans are increasingly joining former President Trump on hedging or dodging when asked whether they'll accept the results of the 2024 elections."

New York Magazine: "Is 2024 Election Denialism a Trump VP Litmus Test?"

Axios: "Trump and his allies will want a VP pick that is more willing to comply with the former president's wishes, which former Vice President Pence rejected by certifying the 2020 results."

CNN: "As Trump continues to focus on his false claims over election integrity, many of his potential deputies expressed their own concerns."

Trump is refusing to commit to accepting the results of this November's election and doubling down on his election denialism.

NBC News: "Trump again won't commit to accepting the presidential election results"

CNN: "Former President Donald Trump refused to unconditionally accept the results of the upcoming 2024 presidential election. … It's the latest comment by Trump in which he has sought to undermine confidence in the American electoral system in the event he loses in November."

Washington Post: "Top Republicans, led by former president Donald Trump, are refusing to commit to accept November's election results with six months until voters head to the polls, raising concerns that the country could see a repeat of the violent aftermath of Trump's loss four years ago. … Trump also has suggested he may not accept the results of the next election."

Politico: "Donald Trump suggested he may not accept the results of the 2024 election in the key swing state of Wisconsin in an interview with the state's largest newspaper, where he also falsely claimed he won the state in 2020."

Associated Press: "[Trump] is flooding the airwaves and his social media platform with distortions, misinformation and unfounded conspiracy theories about his defeat."

NBC News: "Re-litigating the 2020 election, repeating false claims it was stolen and casting aspersions on the security of mail voting remain major fixtures for [Trump] on the stump. … He regularly refers to the 2020 election as 'rigged' on his social media channels."

Associated Press: "Trump, running for the White House for the third time, has signaled that the 2020 election will remain an integral part of his 2024 presidential bid."