Donald Trump refuses to concede defeat in US election
Donald Trump is refusing to concede defeat in the 2020 US election after Democratic rival Joe Biden claimed victory.
Biden crossed the 270 threshold needed to become the 46th president after winning the battleground state of Pennsylvania, according to an AP election count, tweeting he was honoured America had chosen him.
But Trump is refusing to go down without a fight and accept the election result.
“I won this election, by a lot,” he tweeted.
Trump has filed a raft of lawsuits to challenge the results, but election officials in states across the country say there has been no evidence of significant fraud, and legal experts say Trump's efforts are unlikely to succeed.
"This election is far from over," he said in a statement.
"Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated."
The networks' declaration that Biden had won came amid internal concerns within Trump's team about the strategy going forward and pressure on him to pick a more professional legal team to outline where they believe voter fraud took place and show evidence pointing toward it.
I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2020
One Trump loyalist said the 45th president simply was not ready to admit defeat even though there would not be enough ballots thrown out in a recount to change the outcome.
"There's a mathematical certainty that he's going to lose," the loyalist said.
A number of Trump’s tweets claiming electoral fraud have been marked with an alert from the social media giant in the wake of the election result.
“Some or all of the content shared in this Tweet is disputed and might be misleading about an election or other civic process,” the warning says.
Trump plays golf as Biden claims victory
After a nail-biting election and four days of the world waiting for a result, Trump was photographed playing golf as TV networks made their calls for his rival.
Trump claimed Biden was “rushing to falsely pose” as the winner as he arrived at a golf course he owns in Virginia – his first trip outside the White House since election day.
A number of photos showed him sitting in a golf cart or standing on the Trump National Golf Course with a small group of people.
He was wearing a white cap with his tagline, “Make America Great Again”.
He has since left the green to return to the White House, where large crowds are celebrating Biden’s victory.
The 45th president was mocked for saying “I will not rest” in the statement sent during his golf outing.
“Trump not only didn't concede an election he clearly lost, he was also on a golf course when he did that. This is so in character,” one tweeted.
“Trump has got to be worried that he’s not going to have as much time to golf once he’s not president anymore,” another said.
“Thoughts and prayers to whomever was assigned to be Donald Trump’s caddy on the golf course today,” a third added.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
