Trump Could Declare Victory Before Ballots Counted

Rick Hasen: “As President Trump plans a triumphant State of the Union address anticipating his likely acquittal by the Senate, the White House is reportedly awash in a sense of invincibility.”

“Trump’s certainty that he simply cannot lose could have a real impact on this year’s election. Since assuming office in January 2017, Trump has made at least 27 references to staying in office beyond the constitutional limit of two terms. He often follows up with a remark indicating he is ‘joking,’ ‘kidding,’ or saying it to drive the ‘fake’ news media ‘crazy.’ Even if Trump thinks that he’s only ‘joking,’ the comments fit a broader pattern that raises the prospect that Trump may not leave office quietly in the event he’s on the losing end of a very close election. And unfortunately this possibility is only one of a number of potential election meltdowns we may face in November.”