Fact Check: "Trump lost the 2020 election by over 7 million votes."
What We Know
The claim that Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election by over 7 million votes is supported by multiple credible sources. Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, received more than 81 million votes, while Donald Trump, the Republican incumbent, garnered approximately 74 million votes. This results in a popular vote margin of over 7 million in favor of Biden (FEC.gov, Wikipedia).
According to the Washington Post, Biden's victory was confirmed by the final tallies, which showed that he won by a margin of approximately 7 million votes. Additionally, CNN reported that Biden's margin over Trump was indeed more than 7 million votes, a figure that was expected to grow slightly as final counts were completed.
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim is robust and comes from reputable sources, including the Federal Election Commission (FEC), major news outlets, and encyclopedic entries. The FEC's official results document confirms the total votes received by each candidate, establishing the numerical basis for the claim (FEC.gov).
The Wikipedia entry on the 2020 United States presidential election provides a comprehensive overview of the election results, including the popular vote totals. This source is generally reliable due to its collaborative nature and the rigorous citation standards it adheres to, although it is always prudent to cross-reference with primary sources.
Furthermore, the analysis from NPR and CNN corroborates the vote margin, emphasizing that Biden's lead was not only significant but also reflected in the Electoral College, where he secured 306 votes compared to Trump's 232. The consistency across these sources enhances the credibility of the claim.
While some sources may exhibit a slight bias based on their political affiliations, the numerical data presented is factual and verifiable. The consensus among multiple reputable outlets reinforces the accuracy of the claim.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The assertion that Trump lost the 2020 election by over 7 million votes is accurate, as substantiated by official election results and corroborated by multiple reliable sources. The significant margin reflects the outcome of a highly contested election, which ultimately resulted in Biden's victory.
Sources
- PDF Official 2020 Presidential General Election Results - FEC.gov
- 2020 United States presidential election - Wikipedia
- Biden Won By Narrow Margins In Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin : NPR
- By how many votes did Joe Biden beat Donald Trump - Washington Post
- United States 2020 live election results - reuters.com
- Just how big was Donald Trump's election victory? - BBC
- Biden's popular vote margin over Trump tops 7 million - CNN