After multiple news networks and media outlets called the 2020 presidential election for former Vice President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden, President Donald Trump, whose campaign has filed numerous ongoing lawsuits in key battleground states, made it clear that he is not conceding the election “until the American people have the honest vote count they deserve and that democracy demands.”
“Trump says he will not concede,” reported Fox News’ Chad Pergram. “Says Biden has not ‘been certified as the winner of any states.’ Says ‘I will not rest until the American people have the honest vote count they deserve and that democracy demands.'”
Trump says he will not concede. Says Biden has not "been certified as the winner of any states." Says "I will not rest until the American people have the honest vote count they deserve and that democracy demands."
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) November 7, 2020
Trump issued the following statement:
We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed. The simple fact is this election is far from over. Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor. In Pennsylvania, for example, our legal observers were not permitted meaningful access to watch the counting process. Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media.
Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated. The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election. It remains shocking that the Biden campaign refuses to agree with this basic principle and wants ballots counted even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters. Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room – and then fight in court to block their access.
So what is Biden hiding? I will not rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands.
In addition, Jenna Ellis, senior legal adviser and attorney for the Trump campaign, also said in a statement to The Daily Wire that the election is not over.
“Media coordinated efforts are attempting to simply declare Joe Biden the president and ignore the rule of law. There is no official winner until every legal vote is counted accurately, the states certify results, and all legal challenges are resolved,” Ellis said.
The Associated Press, ABC News, CNN, and NBC News called the 2020 presidential election for Biden on Saturday morning after projecting the former VP as the winner of Pennsylvania and its 20 votes in the Electoral College, The Daily Wire reported.
GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Friday that the Trump campaign has legal teams on the ground in PA, GA, AZ, and MI, following alleged voter irregularities and potential fraud.
“Democrats and their friends in the media spent four years talking about a Russia hoax on the grounds of election integrity. Now with just 48 hours after polls closed in an actual presidential election, they want to ignore clear irregularities, rush to call states as won, and end the election,” McDaniel argued. “We will not stand for that.”
“Every candidate, in every office from president down to the local level, has a legal right to challenge irregularities that occur in the process of canvassing ballots,” she continued. “We intend to ensure that every lawful voter has their vote counted in accordance with the law, that observers are granted the access they are due under state law, and that any irregularities that have occurred – whether by malicious intent or incompetence – are fully investigated to the fullest extent allowed under of the law. We will not give up on this process until every last issue has been resolved.”
Related: Election 2020 Legal Challenges: Everything You Need To Know