Over a month after President-elect Joe Biden defeated him in the 2020 election, outgoing President Donald Trump still refuses to acknowledge the reality of his loss.
The President has frequently amplified lies that Democrats coordinated widespread voter fraud to tip the election to Biden. The dozens of legal cases filed on Trump's behalf to overturn the election or limit vote counting have resulted in nearly 60 losses in court, with only one win.
Twice, the Supreme Court—on which three Trump-appointed Justices sit—has denied standing to the Trump campaign's arguments to de-certify the vote in multiple swing states.
Though 126 Republican lawmakers signed an amicus briefing in support of the President's most recent Supreme Court litigation to no avail, the failure of Trump's efforts is becoming even more inevitable—and now it seems that Republican support is waning.
On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) acknowledged Biden as the President-elect one day after electors across the country met to cast 306 electoral votes for him—well over the 270 required for Biden to take the White House.
Watch part of McConnell's speech on the Senate floor below.
BREAKING: Senate Majority Leader McConnell: "The Electoral College has spoken ... Today, I want to congratulate President-elect Biden." pic.twitter.com/lsAdel7rgd
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 15, 2020
The Senate Majority Leader said:
"Many millions of us had hoped the presidential election would yield a different result, but our system of government has processes to determine who will be sworn in on January the 20th. The electoral college has spoken. Today, I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden."
With nearly every avenue to overturn the election exhausted, a faction of Trump's supporters are hoping for the House and Senate to vote against national certification when Vice President Mike Pence reads the electoral votes aloud on January 6.
But as the top Senate Republican acknowledges Biden's victory, the undoing of the election through Congress—especially with a Democratic House—is practically a pipe dream.
Trump responded to the news on Twitter, where he accused McConnell of giving up too soon.
Trump's allies slam Mitch McConnell for congratulating Biden https://t.co/ak9nu6420L via @MailOnline. Mitch, 75,000,000 VOTES, a record for a sitting President (by a lot). Too soon to give up. Republican Party must finally learn to fight. People are angry!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2020
Over the course of Trump's four years in the White House, McConnell's hold over the Senate has been a crucial asset to the Trump administration, with McConnell heading the confirmation process of Trump's judicial nominees to fill more than a hundred vacancies, left open by McConnell's refusal to bring former President Barack Obama's judicial nominees to the floor.
McConnell amplified disinformation surrounding the Russia investigation and Trump's impeachment, but following Trump into the effort of subverting a U.S. election was a step too far.
People mocked Trump's disappointment on Twitter and fact checked claims about his vote totals.
1) 74.2 million does not round up to 75 million.
2) The other candidate got 81 million.
QED: Trump lost, joining the ranks of the biggest losers in presidential history. Most incumbents win re-election. Trump is only the fourth to lose in 100 years. https://t.co/HY35FS7ROi
— S.V. Dáte (@svdate) December 16, 2020
People are only angry that you continue to whine about losing. Give it up already, even Mar-a-lago doesn't want you there. https://t.co/4arF1r4QDv
— John Conlyn (@Jconlyn59) December 16, 2020
Hey Donald, unfortunately for you, more than 81,000,000 voted for Biden, the most of any President (by a lot). And the reason @JoeBiden got more than @BarackObama, is because a lot (and I mean a lot) of people don't like you. #TrumpIsPathetic https://t.co/o8DYttilUp
— Greg Hubert (@gjhubert) December 16, 2020
Ok so here we go with Math again. 81 million is WAY MORE than 74.2. That means you are the FIRST loser. Second place. You ate dust. You saw @JoeBiden come in FIRST by ALOT. It's a RECORD. He beat you like no other President has beat anyone. #SupremeLoser #SoreLoser #Justgo https://t.co/DqjqWAd9ON
— Alvin Lopez (@AlvinLopez18) December 16, 2020
Fact check #1: 81.2 mil beats 74.2 mil no matter how many times you say it doesn't.
Fact check #2: Hillary won the popular vote but still list the election in 2016, so even if you wishing your 74.2 were enough were true; you still lost..... https://t.co/vEkfvWGAnX
— KathiAnn (@KathiAnn8) December 16, 2020
Trump's supporters, however, echoed his frustration with McConnell.
ITS NOT OVER MITCH! I really liked the job you WERE doing, don't be weak like the crooked dumocrats https://t.co/WiNEWa6sFj
— Doug Scoggins (@redwaveyouon) December 16, 2020
You're the only person who will fight for us. Those @GOP #RINOS are spineless, gutless cowards who have stood by & watched #Liberals destroy our great nation! https://t.co/Thh8b4zYCJ
— Mom Against Media ❌ (@MomAgainstMedia) December 16, 2020
Those who don't fight for a Republican President have been bought off by the #Crown.
When the going gets tough, the #CrownAgents reveal themselves when they make for the exit. https://t.co/bjqCVp6I4B
— Joint Investigation (@Stop007now) December 16, 2020
This is a warning to you Mitch. You will either stand and fight with us @senatemajldr or we will get someone in who will fight for us. We are in a new day. This is a battle for our Republic. Which side do you choose to fight on? https://t.co/9I3AMqBL7D
— CJTRUTH (@cjtruth) December 16, 2020
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be inaugurated on January 20th.
