Former President Donald Trump’s recent claim during a Christmas Eve call, where he declared, “Pennsylvania is great. We won Pennsylvania — actually THREE times. We won it in a LANDSLIDE,” caught immediate attention. This statement, broadcast on social media, was notable not only for its context but also for its audacity.
Trump has been vocal about his assertions regarding key battleground states since the 2020 election, despite documented evidence suggesting otherwise. In 2016, Trump won Pennsylvania by a narrow margin of just over 44,000 votes. However, in 2020, he lost the state to Joe Biden by more than 80,000 votes. Interestingly, Trump has begun referencing the 2024 campaign as part of his tally, although there’s no official count of a third contest in past elections.
His comment touches on a broader issue: Trump’s persistent rejection of the 2020 election results and how he navigates the narrative around these claims. Pennsylvania has been central to his post-election discourse, often positioning it as a key battleground in his fight against what he calls electoral fraud.
Pennsylvania: A Symbol of Election Integrity
Trump has repeatedly focused on Pennsylvania, directing legal and political efforts to contest the election outcome. Despite challenges mounted by his legal team, Trump-appointed judges upheld the validity of the 2020 election results, which showed no widespread fraud, contrary to Trump’s assertions.
Beyond legal avenues, Trump attempted to influence state officials directly. For instance, in December 2020, he pressured Georgia House Speaker David Ralston to decertify the state’s election results based on unsubstantiated fraud allegations. Similar pressure tactics were aimed at officials in Pennsylvania, where Trump sought support to challenge certified vote counts.
The Misuse of “Landslide”
When discussing electoral victories, the term “landslide” typically implies a decisive win by a significant margin. However, neither of Trump’s victories in Pennsylvania meets that standard. His win in 2016 saw him garner 48.2% of the vote, while Biden received 50% in 2020, illustrating that claiming a landslide is a gross exaggeration. By contrast, Ronald Reagan’s 1984 success in Pennsylvania resulted in a margin of over 700,000 votes, highlighting the scale required for such a label.
Despite the statistical evidence, Trump continues to characterize his electoral outcomes as groundbreaking. The phrase “we won it in a landslide” illustrates a pattern in Trump’s rhetoric, using emotionally charged language to forge connections with supporters and perpetuate his narrative surrounding the 2020 election.
The Fallout on Public Confidence
Trump’s assertions, communicated to diverse audiences including children, bolster long-standing anxieties about declining trust in American electoral processes. Research has shown that around 36% of Americans still hold the belief that the 2020 election was “stolen,” a sentiment remaining largely unchanged since 2021.
This pervasive distrust contributes to significant challenges in Pennsylvania, where a large number of registered voters has led to issues such as delayed results and threats against election workers. An ill-fated review of the 2020 election, initiated by the Pennsylvania Senate, cost taxpayers considerable funds while yielding no evidence of fraud.
Legal Repercussions
Trump’s claims have sparked legal scrutiny, particularly in Georgia, where his actions post-election are under investigation. His interactions with state officials, such as the phone call to Georgia’s Secretary of State, have come under fire. Similar efforts in Pennsylvania to introduce false electors further complicate Trump’s legal landscape, though Pennsylvania has not yet pursued criminal charges against him.
A Calculated Political Strategy
Many observers view Trump’s repeated claims as a tactic to energize his base. His supporters often interpret his declarations as symbolic gestures aimed at reinforcing their commitment to him. The Christmas call, while seemingly benign, echoed the broader message of challenging Biden’s legitimacy and rallying his base.
Inner conversations, like the one with Ralston, reflect Trump’s strategy to unite Republican officials against the 2020 election outcome, using the specter of unresolved disputes to maintain political momentum. Ralston’s response displayed a complex dynamic; he expressed a desire to support Trump while ultimately refraining from actions that could violate legal statutes.
The Road Ahead to 2024
Trump’s narrative of a Pennsylvania “landslide” continues to play a significant role as he campaigns for another term. In a state likely to impact the Presidential race, these statements could energize disaffected voters and solidify his standing in the Republican primary.
Current polling suggests a competitive landscape in Pennsylvania, with Trump showing a slight lead over Biden among potential voters, although these numbers vary. The powerful repetition of “we won it three times” not only serves to energize supporters but also underscores a crucial divide over the definition of truth in politics. For Trump, proclaiming victory may hold as much weight as the actual electoral outcomes.
Ultimately, remarks like those made during the Christmas Eve call reinforce Trump’s efforts to embed his perspective on the 2020 election into the collective memory of voters. As the legal situation evolves and the campaign season heats up, every statement contributes to shaping the narrative surrounding his presidency and the ongoing political discourse in America.
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