News

Trump brought up ending Electoral College, but McConnell talked him down: report

Getty Images

President Trump told congressional leaders he was considering getting rid of the Electoral College, only to be talked out of it by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

During a meeting with congressional leadership this week, Trump said he was interested in using a national popular vote to determine the presidency, sources who attended the meting told the Journal.

McConnell urged Trump not to do so, pointing out the lengthy recount in Florida in the 2000 presidential election and noting that a national recount would take even longer.

Trump eventually agreed and decided not to pursue the change, the report said.

{mosads}Trump won the Electoral College in November but lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million votes. He has since insisted without evidence that millions of non-citizens voted against him illegally.

Trump is expected to sign an executive order launching a full investigation of U.S. voter fraud in the election.

On Wednesday morning, Trump called for a federal probe of mass voter fraud on Twitter.

“I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time),” he tweeted. “Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!”

Tags Hillary Clinton Mitch McConnell

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.