Trump raises possibility of delaying the election—but that power rests in Congress

Washington, July 30  

US President Donald Trump on Thursday raised the potential of delaying the nation’s November three presidential election, although the Constitution bestows that energy on Congress, not the president.

The transfer drew rapid objections from Democrats and it was not clear whether or not Trump was critical.

Trump additionally stated he wouldn’t belief the outcomes of an election that included widespread mail voting—a measure that many election observers see as vital given the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump, with out proof, repeated his claims of mail-in voter fraud and raised the query of a delay, tweeting: “delay the election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”

Trump’s tweet got here shortly after the United States reported its worst financial downturn for the reason that Great Depression: a second-quarter crash in gross home product resulting from widespread shutdowns prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump, who’s trailing challenger and former Vice President Joe Biden in opinion polls, had beforehand supposed to focus his re-election bid on the nation’s financial efficiency.

Trump had beforehand recommended he wouldn’t belief election outcomes—complaints much like these he raised going into the runup to the 2016 election—however had not so immediately recommended altering the November three date.

Representatives for the White House didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Trump has forged doubt on the legitimacy of mail-in ballots, which have been utilized in far higher numbers in main elections amid the pandemic.

He has additionally made unsubstantiated allegations that voting will probably be rigged and has refused to say he would settle for official election outcomes if he misplaced.

Democrats, together with Biden, have already begun preparations to guard voters and the election amid fears that Trump will attempt to intrude with the November election.

“A sitting president is peddling lies and suggesting delaying the election to keep himself in power,” Democratic Representative Dan Kildee wrote on Twitter.

“Don’t let it happen. Every American — Republican, Independent and Democrat — should be speaking out against this President’s lawlessness and complete disregard of the Constitution.”

US Senator Tom Udall, additionally a Democrat, stated, “There is no way @POTUS can delay the election. We shouldn’t let him distract us from his #COVID19 incompetence.”

Nonpartisan US election analyst Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia stated the tweet appeared to comply with Trump’s typical method of making an attempt to distract voters from dangerous information.

“Trump suggesting delaying the election (he can’t do this w/o congressional approval) seems to be one of his more obvious attempts to change the subject given this morning’s wretched GDP numbers,” Kondik wrote on Twitter.

Attorney General William Barr was requested in congressional testimony earlier this week whether or not Trump may change the election date: “I’ve never been asked the question before. I’ve never looked into it.”

Barr additionally testified that to his data, a sitting president can’t contest the outcomes of an election if the vote tallies are clear. Reuters