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Trump Goes Bizarre: Seeking Defense with Fringe Theories of 2020 Fraud and Jan. 6th

The 2020 U.S. presidential election saw an overwhelming victory for Joe Biden. However, President Donald Trump, who failed to concede defeat after the election was held, continues to stoke controversy around the vote. Most recently, Trump has turned to fringe theories to back up his claims of voter fraud. He has pointed to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying the election results. This event has become of particular focus for President Trump, who claims that the rioters were “American patriots” providing proof of election fraud. Trump’s use of this fringe theory has been heavily criticized. Critics argue that the Jan. 6 incident is a poor attempt to mask his campaign’s failure to uncover any evidence of widespread election fraud. They also point to the growing consensus among law enforcement that the riot was planned in advance by far-right militants and had little to do with President Trump’s rhetoric. Though the Department of Justice has charged hundreds of individuals in connection to the riot, many of Trump’s staunchest allies have continued to rally around his ‘fraud’ claims. These include Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, both of whom attempted to block Congress from certifying the election results. The events of Jan. 6 have become a major part of the 2020 election narrative. Despite the lack of evidence to support his claims, President Trump continues to promote the fringe theories surrounding the riot, fueling further dissent and confusion across the nation. It remains to be seen how this will ultimately affect the future of American democracy.