Donald Trump has challenged newspaper editors and politicians to a debate on his unfounded claims of widespread election fraud during the 2020 presidential election.
In a typically bullish statement, shared via email on Sunday, former President Trump complained "the fake news media" had demeaned what he called "the real results" of the election.
Former President Trump said he would relish the opportunity to debate the claims of election fraud and said it would be "a ratings bonanza."
In the statement, Trump added: "I am willing to challenge the heads of the various papers or even far-left politicians, who have perpetuated the Real Big Lie, which is voter irregularities and fraud on a massive and determinative scale
"This includes members of the highly partisan Unselect Committee of Democrats who refuse to delve into what caused the January 6th protest—it was the fake election results.
The statement continued: "While I am willing to do it, they will never agree because they cannot argue that facts in states including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire, and others such as New Mexico, where the Democrat Secretary of State changed the voting laws without legislative approval just prior to the election, making it virtually impossible for the Republican presidential candidate to win.
"If anyone would like a public debate on the facts, not the fiction, please let me know. It will be a ratings bonanza for television."
While Trump has claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen, there has been no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the states that broke from the Republicans in favor of Joe Biden.
President Biden won the 2020 election with 306 electoral votes to 232. The Democrats' popularity has waned since his victory.
Many of Trump's supporters gathered in Washington D.C. to protest the certification of the result, which led hundreds to force their way inside Congress in a deadly event.
Following the January 6 riot at the Capitol, Trump's claims of widespread election fraud have gone on to become overwhelmingly popular opinions to hold within certain Republican circles .
The former president has endorsed Republicans due in part to their public backing of Trump's claims, such as Kristina Karamo, who is running for Michigan secretary of state, an office that administers election law. Biden won Michigan back from Trump in 2020.
Several Republicans have moved to take charge of these secretary of state positions after audits failed to produce desired results.
The infamous hand recount of Arizona's Maricopa County's 2020 presidential election vote confirmed official results that showed President Biden won.
Some Florida Republicans, despite the fact that Trump won the state, have also pushed for an audit of the state, in a desperate bid to support Trump's unfounded claims.
Newsweek has contacted Trump's office for comment.
UPDATE 11/29/21 6:20 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Anders Anglesey is a U.S. News Reporter based in London, U.K., covering crime, politics, online extremism and trending stories. Anders ... Read more
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