Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s tweet suggesting the postponement of the upcoming presidential election.
During an interview with WNKY-40’s Max Winitz, McConnell was asked about Trump’s tweet and whether or not he would consider the possibility of the election being postponed.
On Thursday morning, the president sparked a media firestorm with his now-pinned tweet that reads, “Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”
With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2020
As he noted historical events of the past, the top-ranking Republican reiterated that multiple previous elections have been held during wars and other crises.
McConnell also insisted this general election will be conducted on the designated date with no exception.
“Never in the history of the country, through wars, depressions and the Civil War have we ever not had a federally scheduled election on time and we’ll find a way to do that again this Nov. 3rd,” McConnell said.
When asked to clarify whether or not November 3 is “set in stone,” McConnell made it clear that it is. He went on to confirm that the country would deal with any circumstances that may arise as election day approaches.
The Kentucky lawmaker continued, “That’s right. We’ll cope with whatever the situation is and have the election on Nov. 3rd as already scheduled.”
See McConnell’s remarks below:
JUST IN: Here is the @senatemajldr’s response to the question about changing the date of the election. @wnkytv @NBCNews @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/Z0nWrsoktl
— Max Winitz (@MaxWinitz) July 30, 2020
Multiple top Republican lawmakers have also responded to Trump’s tweet with stances similar to McConnell’s. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also agreed the election should not be postponed.
Shortly after the president tweeted, Graham also took to Twitter with his reaction. He acknowledged the concern about the possibility of voter fraud but also suggested the date remain in place.
He tweeted, “While I share the president’s concern about fraud in elections that use mail ballots as the primary source of voting, I do not support delaying the November election.”
While I share the president's concern about fraud in elections that use mail ballots as the primary source of voting, I do not support delaying the November election.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 30, 2020
Cruz chimed in with his opinion as he echoed concerns like Graham’s. He also does not believe the date of the election needs to be changed.
“I think election fraud is a serious problem and we should fight and stop it but no, we should not delay the elections,” he said.
Grassley also noted that the National Election Day law — which specifies the election is to take place on “the first Tuesday after the first Monday [in November]” — is well-established and set in stone.
“The federal law says we’re going to have the election the first Tuesday after the first Monday [in November.] All these things are pretty well set and have been going on for decades,” he said.
The general election set for November 3, 2020.
