President Donald Trump continues to deny the reality that President-elect Joe Biden defeated him in the 2020 election, firing off bizarre lies about widespread voter fraud and launching legal challenges to the democratic process in a number of states.
Trump's efforts to unconstitutionally secure a second term are almost certain to fail, but it's less certain that faith in the centuries-old American electoral process will be preserved among Trump's supporters, many of whom are under the collective delusion that widespread voter fraud is rampant enough in the United States to tip a presidential election by hundreds of thousands of votes.
Despite this threat, some of the President's supporters are defending this denial of reality.
Among them is conservative radio host Geraldo Rivera, who assured his followers that he had a phone call with Trump and determined that he would do the "right thing."
Just had heartfelt phone call w friend @realDonaldTrump who said he's a "realist" who'll do the"right thing" But he wants to see "what states do in terms of certifiction (etc)" He sounded committed to fighting for every vote & if he loses, talking more about all he's accomplished
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 13, 2020
While Rivera may feel safe assuming that Trump is doing the right thing, Trump's continued refusal to concede is already disrupting the functionality of government.
General Services Administration (GSA) leader Emily Murphy refuses to sign the necessary paperwork allocating resources like funds and office space to the incoming Biden administration to coordinate a smooth transition.
Trump's critics told Rivera that Trump is already doing the wrong thing, and has been for some time.
Geraldo reassures us that he just had a heartfelt call with a trash-talking crybaby who just got fired by approximately 80 million Americans and is currently throwing a tantrum from the bunker in the White House. https://t.co/qZrfkEhlvk
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) November 13, 2020
We're in the middle of a spiraling Covid-19 crisis. Mike Pence is on vacation. Trump is sulking and watching Fox News while refusing to accept that he lost. Who is organizing the fight to protect hundreds of thousands of Americans from more needless mass death? https://t.co/argQ17GwVi
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) November 13, 2020
If he loses? He LOST!! You guys are all nuts for placating this lunatic. This is America. We don't heal bruised egos in our politicians. Shame on you and him! https://t.co/Qg2wH9pfLd
— Sophia A. Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) November 13, 2020
In this "heartfelt" call, did your friend @realDonaldTrump say ANYTHING about what he's doing to save the lives of Americans, as over a thousand a day perish in the intensifying pandemic. He seems more committed to stewing over his loss than protecting the nation. What a pal. https://t.co/obqKibUzBt
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) November 13, 2020
While COVID explodes across America with no end in sight, Trump is holed up in his bunker crying to Geraldo. https://t.co/VMfXoIgepZ
— Julie DiCaro wrote a book (@JulieDiCaro) November 13, 2020
Shut up, assclown. Your 'friend' is a tyrant, who lost BADLY, and needs to GTFO. That *anyone* is supporting his false claims surrounding the election is absolutely vile, and the least-American thing to happen in the history of our democracy. Shame. #FuckDonaldTrump #FuckTheGOP https://t.co/Sjrt9WY6yQ
— Social Distancing Roga (@RogaWoW) November 13, 2020
Rivera's "certifiction" typo wasn't lost on anyone either.
The spelling error in here is an almost perfect Freudian slip https://t.co/NnlV2tk2bQ
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) November 13, 2020
"Certifiction" is the tyop of the year, especially in GOPland. https://t.co/ubOWFWm4Za
— Harry Turtledove (@HNTurtledove) November 13, 2020
"Certifiction": 2020 Word of the Year https://t.co/w2MddOU96S
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) November 13, 2020
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be inaugurated on January 20th.