# Prediction: Trump won't contest a definitive election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 2, 2020, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567 "2020-11-02T17:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/21 "2020-11-03T15:12:18Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > As I understand it, he loses most lawsuits or settles them on poor terms, usually. And just pretends they never happened. I’m hoping that if he loses he follows this pattern. Just slinks away, makes some sour grapes comments about how unfair it all was, then tries to pretend it all never happened. > > I don’t know that’s what he will do but I think it’s possible.- He handles everything he doesn’t like by walking away and then bitching about it endlessly after the fact. I think he will do that here ~~if~~ when he clearly loses. If there isn’t any money to be made by contesting an election that Biden has clearly won, DJT won’t bother, but he will bitch, moan, complain, carry on, scream, yell, blahblahblah… and that will be music to my ears. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/22 "2020-11-03T15:15:58Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > If the election results are definitive he’ll whine and complain about how unfair everything is but he personally won’t try to do anything about it. This is essentially what I’ve said elsewhere. I note from 538 that Pennsylvania probably won’t be called tonight. I didn’t know this was likely, but would now add specifically that if it can’t be called, Trump will most definitely be out on the hustings talking bullshit, but this team of lawyers won’t take any real action until all the votes are counted. As I’ve said, I think Biden will win by a wide enough margins (including Pennsylvania) that the election is uncontestable, and Trump will slink off and do what you have said. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/23 "2020-11-03T15:44:00Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > he is going to file lawsuits pretty much no matter what happens Now might be a good time to remind his lawyers that being sanctioned for filing frivolous lawsuits is a thing. So are summary judgements. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/24 "2020-11-03T15:44:54Z")
Sorry, but I’ve got to think that Trump will vigorously contest any results not in his favor, at least through the end of the week. He’s got nothing much to lose, and, publicity hound that he is, this will be his chance to go out with a bang. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/25 "2020-11-03T15:45:53Z")
Eh, there are always a ready supply of amoral weasels itching to be “the next Roy Cohn”. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/26 "2020-11-03T15:48:40Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Sorry, but I’ve got to think that Trump will vigorously contest any results not in his favor, at least through the end of the week. He’s got nothing much to lose, and, publicity hound that he is, this will be his chance to go out with a bang. Hell, he’s still bitching about the election he won. We’ll never hear the end of this one, win or lose. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/27 "2020-11-03T15:52:01Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Hell, he’s still bitching about the election he won. We’ll never hear the end of this one, win or lose. Do you think he already had his current strategy in mind back in 2016? It always confused me that he spent so much time whining about fraud when he won the election. If there was any fraud, it clearly either benefited him or didn’t hurt him, why not just shut your mouth and take your win. I wonder how he would have reacted if an investigation was launched into this hypothetical fraud and it ended up revealing that not only was he right about the fraud, it meant that Hillary was the winner. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/28 "2020-11-03T15:59:05Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I wonder how he would have reacted if an investigation was launched into this hypothetical fraud and it ended up revealing that not only was he right about the fraud, it meant that Hillary was the winner. Say it with me: f a k e . n e w s ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/29 "2020-11-03T17:59:34Z")
While I wouldn’t be surprised to see Trump file a few lawsuits to show he is fighting, I doubt they will go anywhere. If Trump loses, I think his primary reaction will be to deny that reality and save face both in his own eyes and for his most ardent followers. However just because Trump denies reality doesn’t mean that he can change it and I am deeply skeptical of the idea that Trump can “steal” an election that Biden has clearly won. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/30 "2020-11-03T20:07:30Z")
I think you’re right. I wouldn’t be surprised if he parlays this into a radio or TV show, or some other media-related opportunity to monetize his bitching and established base of deplorables. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/31 "2020-11-03T20:14:29Z")
I don’t have a cite handy, but in 2016 he was already putting a media operation together, anticipating that he wouldn’t win. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/32 "2020-11-03T20:22:15Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Eh, there are always a ready supply of amoral weasels itching to be “the next Roy Cohn”. They’ll end up being “the next Michael Cohen”. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/33 "2020-11-03T20:46:33Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > They’ll end up being “the next Michael Cohen”… “But but… I didn’t think **I** would be thrown under the bus!” Laments lawyer who worked for someone who has thrown everyone under the bus. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/34 "2020-11-03T23:34:26Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I don’t have a cite handy, but in 2016 he was already putting a media operation together, anticipating that he wouldn’t win. Exactly. I will repeat what I observed on election night in 2016, which was that the only person more surprised, shocked and frightened that he’d won than most of the American people was Trump. It was apparent from body language, facial expressions and the most depressing location for an election night win I’ve ever seen, Trump never intended to win. I half expected him to step aside, shove Pence in front of the microphone and yell, “Just kidding!” We might have been better off if he had. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/35 "2020-11-03T23:39:13Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I will repeat what I observed on election night in 2016, which was that the only person more surprised, shocked and frightened that he’d won than most of the American people was Trump. It was apparent from body language, facial expressions and the most depressing location for an election night win I’ve ever seen, Trump never intended to win. [gossip]And Melania was positively livid - she already had the divorce papers drawn up![/gossip] ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/36 "2020-11-04T05:33:22Z")
He can’t afford to lose now though because the stuff he’s done in office creates a real chance he’ll go to jail if he loses. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/37 "2020-11-04T15:04:01Z")
Well, this thread is moot. The results are definitely not definitive. Lord knows he has enough to at least verbally contest the results. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/38 "2020-11-04T15:04:44Z")
Oh, yeah. He’s gonna shit all over this one… ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/39 "2020-11-07T21:11:46Z")
And now the fun begins… ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-trump-wont-contest-a-definitive-election/924567/40 "2021-01-02T19:51:12Z")
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