Former President Donald Trump says Republicans will not turn out to vote in the upcoming midterm and presidential elections if his claims of widespread fraud are not addressed.
In a series of statements on Wednesday, Trump said, “Here we go again. After a very long wait, a judge in Georgia refuses to let us look at the ballots, which I have little doubt are terrible. This whole situation is a disgrace to our Country. Why can’t the public see the ballots?”
“Our Country is going to hell and we are not allowed transparency even in our Elections. The people of Georgia deserve to know the truth. So unfair to them and our Country. The fight continues, we will never give up. Our Elections are so corrupt and nobody wants to do anything about it!” he added.
In a separate statement, the former president claimed that House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol should be “studying the massive Presidential Election Fraud.”
“You cannot study January 6th without studying the reason it happened, November 3rd… If we had an honest media this Election would have been overturned many months ago, but our media is almost as corrupt as our political system,” Trump insisted.
Finally, he warned, “If we don’t solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020 (which we have thoroughly and conclusively documented), Republicans will not be voting in ‘22 or ‘24. It is the single most important thing for Republicans to do.”
Trump is now calling on Republicans not to vote — declaring “Republicans will not be voting in ‘22 or ‘24” if his election fraud hoax is not “solved” first. He helped Republicans lose two Georgia Senate seats in January. Now he seems ready to try it again in the midterms. pic.twitter.com/ARBnsfwmzJ
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) October 13, 2021
His statement was interpreted by some as encouraging Republicans not to vote in the upcoming elections.
I guess unnecessarily losing the Georgia special elections—and empowering Joe Biden to spend additional trillions and get through a bunch of dreadful executive branch and judicial nominees—was just the proof of concept. https://t.co/V1KKnKcGKL
— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) October 13, 2021
Trump still encouraging Republicans to sit out elections pic.twitter.com/ujGFNaom5g
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) October 13, 2021
However, Liz Harrington, a spokesperson for the former president, said in a tweet, “President Trump did not say don’t vote. He pointed out the obvious consequence of not fixing fraud and holding those who broke laws accountable will be Republicans sitting out.”
“If we don’t fix our elections, many voters will think their vote won’t count,” she added.
President Trump did not say don't vote. He pointed out the obvious consequence of not fixing fraud and holding those who broke laws accountable will be Republicans sitting out
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) October 13, 2021
If we don't fix our elections, many voters will think their vote won't counthttps://t.co/mufmgdO3fj
Ahead of the January runoff election for Georgia’s two Senate seats, Lin Wood, an attorney for Trump, told attendees of a rally not to vote for the Republican candidates. The two Democratic candidates went on to win the races, giving the party control of the Senate.
Trump also weighed in on the runoff races, claiming that they were “illegal and invalid,” which The New York Times noted at the time could “complicate his efforts to convince his supporters to turn out for Republican candidates in the two runoff races.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the 2020 election was “stolen” through widespread fraud. However, several recounts and legal challenges did not alter the results of the election or find evidence of widespread fraud.