Fact Check: "Trump won the 2020 election"
What We Know
The claim that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election is factually incorrect. The official results of the 2020 presidential election, as certified by the Federal Election Commission, show that Joe Biden received 306 electoral votes while Donald Trump received 232 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency (FEC.gov).
On January 6, 2021, the U.S. Congress certified the Electoral College results, confirming Biden's victory. This certification was supported by the secretaries of state and electoral commissions from all states, including those with Republican leadership, who affirmed the legitimacy of the election results (U.S. Congress certifies the Electoral College Vote). Furthermore, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) stated that the 2020 election was "the most secure in American history" and found no evidence of widespread voter fraud or irregularities (CISA statement).
Analysis
The assertion that Trump won the election has been widely debunked by multiple credible sources. The official election results, as documented by the FEC and confirmed by the Electoral College, clearly indicate that Joe Biden won both the popular and electoral votes.
Additionally, the claim has been perpetuated by various partisan sources and individuals who have not provided credible evidence to support their assertions. For instance, while some groups submitted unofficial certificates claiming Trump won, these were not recognized or accepted by official state authorities (2020 Presidential Election Unofficial Certificates).
The reliability of the sources confirming Biden's victory is high, as they include government agencies and official election bodies. In contrast, the sources promoting the claim that Trump won often stem from partisan groups or individuals with a vested interest in disputing the election results.
Conclusion
The claim that Donald Trump won the 2020 election is False. The evidence overwhelmingly supports that Joe Biden won the election, as confirmed by official electoral results and the certification process conducted by Congress. The assertion lacks credible support and contradicts the documented outcomes of the election.
Sources
- Official 2020 Presidential General Election Results - FEC.gov
- Election Results, Canvass, and Certification
- 2020 Presidential Election Unofficial Certificates Submitted ...
- U.S. Congress certifies the Electoral College Vote
- 2020 Electoral College Results
- 2020 United States presidential election
- Election certification, explained
- Election results certification dates, 2020