President Donald Trump continues to deny the reality that he lost the 2020 presidential election to President-elect Joe Biden, who is expected to earn 306 electoral votes when the Electoral College meets on December 14. By Trump's own evaluation, Biden's 306 votes to Trump's 232 are a landslide win.
Nevertheless, Trump continues to unleash lie-ridden tweets, continues to pressure state legislatures, and continues to deploy baseless lawsuits propping up the fantasy that widespread election fraud—coordinated by Democrats—somehow tipped the election to Biden.
If the goings-on in Congress on Tuesday are any indication, Republican lawmakers are standing with him.
The Congressional leadership's Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies voted on a resolution that—in past elections, when a peaceful transition of power was commonplace and expected—would have been a simple and likely unanimous bipartisan vote.
The resolution would have acknowledged that the committee recognizes Biden's victory and is planning for an inauguration in light of the pandemicy.
The committee's Republicans—Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) voted against the resolution, creating a deadlock that struck it down.
NEW: The Inaugural Committee fails to pass simple resolution essentially acknowledging Biden as president-elect after all Republicans opposed.
Hoyer offered the resolution, which failed 3-3. Other committee members are Pelosi, McConnell, McCarthy, Blunt and Klobuchar
— Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) December 8, 2020
The move was an embodiment of Republican lawmakers' fealty to Trump and his doctrine, considering it a viable path forward to preserve the party's dominance—even if it means embracing lies and undermining the integrity of U.S. elections.
Twitter users roundly decried the resolution's failure to pass.
An entire political party having a tantrum. https://t.co/ThwVIY7HSi
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) December 8, 2020
The GOP is no longer able to be trusted with governing the country.
They can only be trusted to promote a cult and be loyal to the Trumps. https://t.co/bYOicWIgi5
— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) December 8, 2020
I am so sad for this country. The Republicans, who know they cannot win nearly any election fairly, refuse to respect the rules of the game. Our system may not survive it in the long run. https://t.co/xvItxdhxTU
— Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) December 8, 2020
Un effing believable. https://t.co/dNPPYhYbAP
— Melissa Jo Peltier (@MelissaJPeltier) December 8, 2020
This is sickening https://t.co/6x9jaqMbNq
— The REAL MillerFinch (@REALmillerfinch) December 8, 2020
This is frightening!!! https://t.co/PwwCVoRuMy
— Beth Geller 🇺🇸 (@JustBeSmoothNJ) December 8, 2020
They highlighted the urgency of the moment and that the GOP's capitulation to Trump's lies will render the entire American democratic process illegitimate to Trump's base.
Journalists are unable to frame what's happening outside of their inclination to treat everything as a process story
The headline is not “Committee Fails To Pass Inaugural Resolution"
It's “Republican Leaders Back Trump Effort To Overthrow Incoming Administration" https://t.co/fSwNMAFVOT
— Matt Negrin, HOST OF HARDBALL AT 7PM ON MSNBC (@MattNegrin) December 8, 2020
YES, THIS IS A COUP. https://t.co/b4riM6JP8p
— Greg Carey (@Greg_Carey) December 8, 2020
This should be bigger news.
Roughly half of the U.S. Congress is out of step with reality and refuses to acknowledge truth. Their loyalty to the Constitution pales in comparison to their loyalty to Trump.
The @GOP is unfit to serve. Democrats HAVE to win in Georgia! https://t.co/yraeseNArk
— Iche_me! (@iche_me) December 8, 2020
Biden will be inaugurated on January 20th, along with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. That vote has already happened.
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