Will Trump Commission More Recounts After Failing to Commission Them in Close States?

In the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, former President Donald Trump has leveraged the idea of recounts, particularly in states where the margins were close, such as Wisconsin and Arizona. However, evidence suggests that Trump is unlikely to spend his own money on these recounts, despite his assertions. This article explores the reasons behind this behavior and examines the implications for election integrity.

Why Trump Won’t Pay for Recounts

It is widely believed that Trump could commission recounts in any state, provided he is willing to foot the bill. However, he has not done so, despite his public statements and the ongoing controversy surrounding the election, especially regarding the Dominion Voting Systems.

According to the law in Wisconsin, which requires a margin of 1% or less for a recount to be allowed, and the challenger to pay in advance, it is clear that Trump is strategically avoiding these costs. He has no incentive to spend money on a process that he knows cannot change the outcome in his favor, given the substantial lead Biden secured in the overall vote count.

Sparring with the Dominion Voting System Controversies

One of the key arguments made by Trump supporters was that the Dominion Voting Systems, which was used in several states, could have led to a fraudulent counting of votes. If such recounts were to take place, human confirmation of the machine-counted votes would likely debunk these claims, effectively ending the controversy.

However, it is highly unlikely that Trump will commission such extensive human recounts, as doing so would only highlight the integrity of the election process and potentially undermine his base and his narrative. Moreover, claiming to discover issues with the system without transparent confirmation undermines his credibility.

Legal and Political Ramifications

The reluctance of Trump to commission recounts could backfire on him legally and politically. If the Georgia recount results are announced, revealing no discrepancies traced to machine-counted ballots, Trump’s inaction will be interpreted as a lack of sincerity in his claims of fraud. This raises questions about his willingness to go the extra mile to uphold the integrity of the election.

Biden’s legal team may seize on this in future court proceedings, underscoring that Trump has missed numerous opportunities to address any potential issues with the election. This claim will likely portray Trump as less committed to the preservation of democratic processes, further eroding his political capital and trust with the public.

Conclusion: The Lost Cause of Recounts

Given that Trump cannot change the election results through recounts, there is little reason for him to spend his own money on these processes. However, he will continue to use them as a tool for keeping up appearances and for maintaining control over his followers. The election defense fund serves as a means to raise funds and maintain a facade of ongoing legal battles, even though the substantive issues are never addressed.

Ultimately, Trump’s behavior underscores a broader issue: the importance of financial accountability and transparency in the electoral process. The refusal to pay for legitimate recounts is a clear signal that Trump is more interested in maintaining his political narrative than in ensuring the integrity of the democratic process.