Trump rails against Georgia recount process

President Trump on Saturday railed against the recount process in Georgia, calling it a “waste of time” on Twitter and claiming that officials won’t let his campaign’s election observers into counting rooms. 

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) announced the recount of the state’s nearly 5 million votes on Wednesday. President-elect Joe Biden maintains a slim lead of 0.3 percentage points, or more than 14,000 votes, over Trump in the state. 

Biden on Friday was projected to win the Peach State by multiple news outlets. He is the first Democrat since former President Clinton in 1992 to carry the state. 

“The hand recount taking place in Georgia is a waste of time. They are not showing the matching signatures,” Trump tweeted. “Call off the recount until they allow the MATCH. Don’t let the Radical Left Dems STEAL THE ELECTION!” 

The hand recount taking place in Georgia is a waste of time. They are not showing the matching signatures. Call off the recount until they allow the MATCH. Don’t let the Radical Left Dems STEAL THE ELECTION!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 14, 2020

“They wouldn’t let our Poll Watchers and Observers into the Counting Rooms,” he continued in a subsequent tweet. “We win on that alone!” 

They wouldn’t let our Poll Watchers and Observers into the Counting Rooms. We win on that alone!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 14, 2020

Both of the tweets from the president were flagged by Twitter, which added a label stating that “this claim about election fraud is disputed.” 

The social media giant ramped up its efforts to combat election misinformation before, during and after the election. 

Over the past week, Raffensperger has faced criticism from fellow Republicans over his handling of the election. 

Specifically, Georgia Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R) and David Perdue (R), who are both facing runoff elections, called for Raffensperger to resign, accusing him of “failing to deliver an honest election.” 

A spokesperson for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) said the vote “needs to be a wake up call to the Secretary of State’s office to take a serious look at any and all voting irregularity allegations.”

In addition, GOP House members in the state called for him to review the Trump campaign’s allegations of voter fraud, and the Trump campaign specifically called for the by-hand recount. 

There is no substantial evidence of widespread voter fraud taking place during the 2020 election. On Thursday, a coalition of federal and state election officials as well as representatives from election machine manufacturing companies said that the election was the most secure contest in American history. 

The audit in Georgia is expected to be done by Nov. 20, when the state must certify its results. Biden is currently projected to win the Electoral College by a margin of 306 to 232.