Former President Donald Trump has been making waves as he campaigns for another shot at the presidency. A defining feature of his strategy is the talking point of potential election fraud, which he has increasingly leaned on as the 2024 election draws near.
Just last month at a rally held at the UNLV Thomas & Mack Center, Trump boldly claimed his campaign was leading significantly, even going so far as to assert he was on track to win states typically associated with Democratic strongholds, including Colorado and New Hampshire. This was curious considering multiple polls showed him trailing Vice President Kamala Harris by margins as wide as 17 percentage points.
During his much-anticipated speech, Trump didn’t shy away from peddling familiar buzzwords aimed at fueling his core base. “If we’re leading by a lot, they won’t think about cheating as much,” he told the gathered crowd of approximately 12,500—though he exaggerates, claiming 29,000 attended, which aligns with similar inflated figures from previous events. Clinging to longstanding allegations of voter fraud, he assured supporters they could help him secure victory by voting early. At the same time, he downplayed any concerns associated with mail-in ballots and early voting, behaviors he had heavily criticized before.
Trump’s rhetoric often finds its roots back to the 2020 election, where he infamously claimed widespread voter fraud without any substantiation. To this day, no evidence has surfaced to support his assertions about fraud influencing the election’s outcome. Yet, Trump’s repeated insistence on being cheated out of victories, at both the state and federal levels, has left some analysts mystified. His accusations have included everything from “non-citizen” voters to irregularities with overseas ballot procedures.
The former president is not only echoing old talking points but is also setting the stage with his allies for what could be another tumultuous election season. Just recently, Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, announcing his concerns over the integrity of the upcoming election. He declared, "I, together with many Attorneys and Legal Scholars, am watching the Sanctity of the 2024 Presidential Election very closely because I know... the rampant Cheatings and Skullduggery…" This call to arms exposes his unwillingness to accept any defeat, casting suspicion on the electoral process even before the voting has officially begun.
Trump's comments set the tone for the ensuing months, hinting at potential consequences for those he perceives as involved in any electoral wrongdoing. He threatened, "WHEN I WIN, those people who CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law..." Such statements signal Trump’s openness to revisiting controversial stances and has already shook the confidence of many within the political sphere.
His campaign rhetoric has also heavily included contentious immigration policies, as seen during the same Las Vegas rally. Trump reiterated his long-held belief of the need for mass deportations, describing the country as “an occupied territory” as claims of immigrant crime surged, prompting him to speak of putting “vicious and bloodthirsty animals” behind bars.
On the ground, some of the former president's allies have been working diligently to manipulate election results for the GOP. For example, in Georgia, Trump has aligned with members of the state election board to impose numerous restrictions aimed at complicity for those attempting to volunteer for the election process. Reports indicated such changes resulted in fewer individuals willing to take up the demanding work of ensuring transparent elections.
The pushback against Trump’s claims and the resulting scrutiny surrounding election integrity have been noted widely, even leading to certain supposedly savvy election laws being thrown out by judges as unconstitutional or unwarranted. This pushes the narrative of democracy within battleground states to the forefront, bringing both supporters and dissenters out of the woodwork.
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign seems to have created divisions even within its ranks. Key figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance have found themselves wavering on support for the acceptance of the election results, asserting they would only accept outcomes if the election were “free and fair.” Such ambiguous statements reveal underlying conflicts, showcasing how entrenched socio-political rhetoric can shape perceptions and dictate responses leading up to the election.
While grassroots organizers and fellow Republicans attempt to capitalize on grassroots backing and funding initiatives, Trump has adopted the resolve to continue pushing narratives of stolen elections and anti-immigrant sentiments. Recent polling indicated his attempts at wooing Arab and Muslim voters might contradict his long-standing endorsement of Israel, noting he’s likely to continue upholding the country’s unsolicited military operations.
Emerging narratives surrounding the RBG PAC—a pro-Trump super PAC invoking the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s name—have raised eyebrows across America. Having reportedly spent millions on promoting Trump as moderate on issues like abortion, the PAC shrouded its funding sources under layers of uncertainty. It exemplifies the lengths to which Trump’s allies are willing to go to align his campaign messaging with broader electoral strategies.
Within this climate of charged political tension, Trump’s campaign apparatus is gearing up for what many believe will be another contentious battle for the White House, as accusations of electoral malfeasance and other conspiracy theories seem poised to dominate the discourse leading up to November. The former president remains ever confident, filled with promises of grandeur, yet underlining his proclivity to divorce from the factuality surrounding the last presidential election raises concerning questions about the legitimacy of democratic processes if he were to reclaim office.
Observers note this sets the backdrop for the November elections where the lines between fact and political theater are increasingly blurred. With the general electorate now hitting the ground running, it’s uncertain how Trump’s baseless allegations and rallying cries will influence the fabric of American democracy as we head toward the pivotal election.
