Donald Trump could assume the presidency of the United States even if he loses the election in November.
This is reported by Politico, referencing discussions among congress members, party officials, and constitutional law experts who believe that Trump may retain influence over the political landscape in the country even without a victory.
Experts point to several possible avenues. The first involves Trump actively undermining trust in the election results by accusing opponents of fraud. He may initiate legal proceedings in an attempt to contest the results in key states. This could create legal chaos and attempts to delay the acknowledgment of the results.
The second option involves pressuring state officials not to certify the election results. Although this approach would not halt the process, it could influence Republicans in Congress.
The third scenario is Trump appealing to Republican lawmakers in states to appoint alternative electors. If these actions are supported by Congress, it could lead to a situation where Democrats find themselves in the minority when confirming the results.
Finally, if no candidate receives 270 electoral votes, the election of the president will move to the House of Representatives, where Republicans may secure the necessary votes. This procedure is known as "conditional elections." It is essential that the Speaker of the House, Republican Mike Johnson, does not allow the election results to be certified. In that case, the "conditional elections" mechanism would come into play, with each state delegation having one vote. Republicans hold an advantage with 26 delegations.
This scenario is not new to American politics. In 1824, the House of Representatives also elected a president when no candidate secured enough electoral votes. At that time, John Adams became president, despite Andrew Jackson receiving more electoral votes.
Source: politico.