Bolton: Republican leaders need to explain to voters that Trump lost

Former national security adviser John Bolton said on Sunday that Republican leaders need to explain to voters that President Trump has lost the election, even though the president has yet to concede.

Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Bolton was asked by host Martha Raddatz what could be done to convince Trump voters that President-elect Joe Biden had won the election legitimately and fairly.

{mosads}“I think it’s very important for leaders in the Republican Party to explain to our voters, who are not as stupid as the Democrats think, that, in fact, Trump has lost the election and that his claims of election fraud are baseless,” said Bolton.

“The fact is that we’ve seen litigation in all the key battleground states, and it has failed consistently,” he added. “Right now, the Trump campaign is doing the legal equivalent of pitching pennies.”

NEW: Former National Security Adviser John Bolton urges GOP leadership to “explain to our voters… that in fact Trump has lost the election and that these claims of election fraud are baseless.” https://t.co/n7MOSxWdol pic.twitter.com/S4eELHLBPX

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 15, 2020

Bolton noted that there has been no convincing evidence from the Trump campaign thus far, saying, “It’s clearer and clearer there isn’t any evidence.”

Raddatz noted that few Republican leaders have spoken to their constituents to convince them of Biden’s win.

Many Republicans such as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have echoed Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud. Bolton, however, appeared to be optimistic that GOP leaders would soon take the time to speak out.

“I think they’re getting ready to do it. I’ve said I think this is a character test for the Republican Party. I don’t buy the argument that Donald Trump has hypnotized Republican voters or that they’re not capable of accepting the truth. This is a myth,” said Bolton.

–Updated on Nov. 16 at 6:12 a.m.