There were arguments, according to several sources familiar with the conversations. It’s part of the campaign to ensure Trump declares victory early on election night, as he did in 2020.

Trump could prematurely declare victory after the first tranche of votes arrive on Tuesday and well before any official call is made. Preliminary results could sway Republicans in key battleground states and then tip Democrats as absentee and mail-in ballots are considered, especially in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

Trump can therefore take advantage of the appearance that he may be ahead by a shift as later ballots will be counted, allowing him to vindicate his base and muddy the waters with baseless claims that the election has been taken away from them. he.

Jason Miller, a senior Trump adviser, did not rule out the possibility of Trump declaring victory on election night during a joke with reporters on Monday. He was asked by CBS News’ Olivia Rinaldi if Trump would come out on election night and declare victory, and Miller said, “We’re not going to announce that until we get past 270.” Rinaldi asked by whose measure they would consider reaching 270, and Miller said again: “Once we get past 270, we’ll feel confident.”

Speaking in the taxi of a garbage truck on October 30, Trump was asked whether he expected to declare victory on election night. “Hopefully we will declare victory,” Trump said. “I think we’ll have a big enough victory to get that night. It should always be that way.” That night.

Trump’s allies, such as Steven Bannon, also called for the former president to “address the nation” and “explain to the American people where the polling place is” by 11 p.m. on election night.

In 2020, Trump declared victory around 2:30 a.m. on November 4, but did not win. President Biden was expected to win on November 7 after winning Pennsylvania.

results may take some time They come for a variety of reasons, including different methods among states for mail-in ballot counting and early voting.

– Olivia Rinaldi, Fin Gomez and Robert Kosta