President Trump's fixation on 2020 isn't about the actual election, but rather his determination to maintain a grip on power and cement his legacy as a "Greatest Leader" long after he's left office.
As the 28th day of a government shutdown drags on, and with military actions in Latin America leaving at least 43 dead, Trump is still churning out conspiracy theories about a stolen election. He recently posted that former FBI Director Christopher Wray, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco "cheated and rigged the 2020 election," despite being appointed after he left office.
The truth is, Trump can't accept that he lost - or that his antics on January 6th made a mockery of the democratic process. By constantly rehashing 2020, he's trying to soothe his ego and maintain control over a narrative that's rapidly fading away.
But there's another reason behind Trump's obsession with 2020: the looming threat of midterm elections in 2026. With a Democratic majority possible in both chambers of Congress, Trump knows he can't afford to lose either seat. Losing the midterms would mean surrendering control and irrelevance, which is unthinkable for someone who craves validation as an "unfettered master" of all he surveys.
Trump's plan to ensure Republican dominance involves manipulating public perception about election integrity, using tactics like voter ID requirements, redistricting, and gerrymandering. He's also pushing for the use of voting machines that have been deemed compromised, making it easier for him to challenge results if things don't go his way.
GOP officials are preparing to take similar steps in key battleground states, ready to deploy election deniers and sympathetic judges who can help them nullify votes or suppress Democratic turnout. There's even talk of a potential national emergency declaration that would allow Trump to intimidate voters or deploy the National Guard at polling stations.
It's clear that Trump has bought into an ideology that sees losing elections as an illegitimate outcome, regardless of the will of the people. This is no longer paranoia - it's a full-fledged organizing principle for the Republican Party.
As the 28th day of a government shutdown drags on, and with military actions in Latin America leaving at least 43 dead, Trump is still churning out conspiracy theories about a stolen election. He recently posted that former FBI Director Christopher Wray, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco "cheated and rigged the 2020 election," despite being appointed after he left office.
The truth is, Trump can't accept that he lost - or that his antics on January 6th made a mockery of the democratic process. By constantly rehashing 2020, he's trying to soothe his ego and maintain control over a narrative that's rapidly fading away.
But there's another reason behind Trump's obsession with 2020: the looming threat of midterm elections in 2026. With a Democratic majority possible in both chambers of Congress, Trump knows he can't afford to lose either seat. Losing the midterms would mean surrendering control and irrelevance, which is unthinkable for someone who craves validation as an "unfettered master" of all he surveys.
Trump's plan to ensure Republican dominance involves manipulating public perception about election integrity, using tactics like voter ID requirements, redistricting, and gerrymandering. He's also pushing for the use of voting machines that have been deemed compromised, making it easier for him to challenge results if things don't go his way.
GOP officials are preparing to take similar steps in key battleground states, ready to deploy election deniers and sympathetic judges who can help them nullify votes or suppress Democratic turnout. There's even talk of a potential national emergency declaration that would allow Trump to intimidate voters or deploy the National Guard at polling stations.
It's clear that Trump has bought into an ideology that sees losing elections as an illegitimate outcome, regardless of the will of the people. This is no longer paranoia - it's a full-fledged organizing principle for the Republican Party.