Trump needs ‘time’ to process loss, Top Republican says
The former GOP senator also said Democrats should tone down their rhetoric
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rick Santorum, a former top Republican senator, said everyone needs to give the president more time to process his impending election defeat and Democrats should tone it down with their rhetoric.
His comments came in reaction to Mr Biden campaign’s vow to escort Donald Trump from the White House.
“Give people time,” Mr Santorum said on CNN where he is a political commentator. “He’s just found out that he’s probably not going to be the president of the United States here.”
“It’s democracy’s schedule,” fellow host Gloria Borger responded. “It’s not Donald Trump’s.”
Read more: Follow the latest election results
Mr Santorum criticized the Biden campaign for its valedictory turn in messaging.
The former Vice President has continued to urge patience as all votes are counted, but after hearing Mr Trump has no plans to concede, the campaign said: “The United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.”
The former GOP senator from Pennsylvania and presidential candidate also said Democrats would have responded similarly by levying charges of voter fraud had they been the ones falling behind.
“If Joe Biden was going to win by 10 points, and he loses, “Fraud!” This would be the cry of the other side, too.”
Despite Mr Santorum’s defense of the president, he also on Friday criticized the president’s White House anti-concession speech.
“Much of that statement was not factual and was at times incendiary and not something the president of the United States should say,” Mr Santorum said.
“How can you say, ‘We have to wait and count the votes in Arizona, and I can win this thing, but if you count the votes in Philadelphia, you’re stealing them?’ The reality is in Pennsylvania, Democrats voted by mail and Republicans voted in person, and it’s because you asked them to do so.”
Read more: US election results map: Live 2020 updates by state
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments