Former President Donald Trump made a bold claim during an interview with television psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, asserting that he would win California if Jesus Christ were counting the ballots.
According to The Hill, Trump expressed concerns about ballot distribution in California, claiming that some individuals receive multiple ballots.
He also criticized the state's voting system, particularly the widespread use of mail-in ballots. Trump's comments reflect his continued skepticism about the integrity of elections despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud in California.
Trump's assertion about winning California under certain conditions surprised Dr. Phil, who sought clarification.
The former president stood by his claim, citing his perceived popularity among Hispanic voters and the presence of Trump signs throughout the state.
Trump elaborated on his belief, stating:
I think so. I do. I see it. I go around California, they have Trump signs all over the place. It's a very dishonest [state]; everything is mail-in. They send out 38 million ballots, I think it is.
It's important to note that a Republican presidential candidate has not won California since George H. W. Bush in 1988. In the 2020 election, President Biden secured a significant victory in the state, winning by nearly 30 percentage points.
The controversial statements made by Trump have elicited responses from various political figures and campaigns. Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign released a statement addressing Trump's comments, characterizing them as delusional and difficult for even Dr. Phil to diagnose.
Sarafina Chitika, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, criticized Trump's track record and his continued denial of the 2020 election results.
Chitika stated:
As Donald Trump's friend Dr. Phil says, 'you can't change what you don't acknowledge.' And he still doesn't acknowledge that he lost the 2020 election four years ago – despite the violent insurrection launched in his name. While Donald Trump refuses to acknowledge the facts, voters know Vice President Harris is the candidate to lead us into the future.
Representative Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, also weighed in on Trump's remarks. Lieu's response on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) seemed to mock the former president's statement about Jesus as a vote counter.
Lieu's tweet emphasized his perspective on Trump's moral standing and mathematical accuracy, "I'm just an ordinary Catholic, but I'm thinking that Jesus probably wouldn't come down for a man found liable by a jury for sexual assault. And since Jesus invented the laws of the universe, including math, He would certify that Trump lost California. And GA, NV, AZ, WI, MI, PA."
In conclusion, Trump's interview with Dr. Phil has reignited discussions about electoral integrity and voting practices in California. His claims about potentially winning the state under specific circumstances have been met with skepticism and criticism from political opponents. The incident underscores the ongoing debate surrounding election processes and highlights the polarized nature of current political discourse in the United States.
