Last night, in an interview with KTVN, Donald Trump dug his heels deeper into the Big Lie when he stated that Mike Pence “didn’t have the courage to do what [he had] to do” when Pence refused to overturn the 2020 election, and that if Pence had, there would have been “different election results.” After Nevada GOP leaders themselves attempted to aid Trump in stealing the election, Trump is threatening once again to undermine democracy. 

Following Trump desperately doubling down on the Big Lie, DNC spokesperson Stephanie Justice released the following statement:

“This isn’t the first time Donald Trump has doubled down on his election denialism in Nevada, and it certainly won’t be the last. If he doesn’t get his way in Nevada, his intent is clear: he, alongside the Nevada GOP – whose leaders have already proven to be more than willing to follow his command – will once again threaten to dismantle our democracy. Trump has said that he’ll be a dictator on ‘day one,’ and we should believe him. Nevadans reject extreme attacks on their rights. If the Nevada GOP continues to follow Trump down his rabbit hole of conspiracy, they’ll only have themselves to blame when they lose in November.”

The Nevada GOP is led by Michael McDonald, who – alongside five other fake electors –  attempted to steal the election for Donald Trump.

New York Times: “The chairman of the Nevada Republican Party has been indicted.”

Politico: “In Nevada, six Republicans, including state GOP chair Michael McDonald, signed fake certificates on Dec. 14, 2020, falsely declaring themselves to be the state’s duly appointed Electoral College representatives. Trump and his allies then invoked that slate of false electors, as well as similar slates in six other states, as they tried to block Congress’ certification of the election results on Jan. 6, 2021.”

Trump personally thanked Nevada’s fake electors, praising them for the part they played in his attack on the country’s democratic institutions in a visit to the state.

The Hill: “Trump says Nevada fake electors treated ‘unfairly’”

Associated Press: “Former President Donald Trump called out three of Nevada’s fake electors Sunday, saying they’re being treated unfairly less than 24 hours before they are scheduled to be arraigned for signing certificates falsely stating Trump won the state in 2020.

[…]

“‘A tremendous man, tremendous guy, gets treated so unfairly and he loves this country and he loves this state,’ Trump said of Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald, who was one of six Republicans indicted earlier this month by a Nevada grand jury. 

[…]

“Trump said Clark County GOP Chairman Jesse Law is a ‘fantastic man’ who is ‘treated very unfairly.’ He also thanked another fake elector, Jim Hindle, the Storey County clerk and vice chairman of the Nevada GOP, at the rally.”

Trump is refusing to commit to accepting the results of this November’s election and doubling down on his election denialism.

NBC News: “Trump again won’t commit to accepting the presidential election results”

CNN: “Former President Donald Trump refused to unconditionally accept the results of the upcoming 2024 presidential election. … It’s the latest comment by Trump in which he has sought to undermine confidence in the American electoral system in the event he loses in November.”

Washington Post: “Top Republicans, led by former president Donald Trump, are refusing to commit to accept November’s election results with six months until voters head to the polls, raising concerns that the country could see a repeat of the violent aftermath of Trump’s loss four years ago. ….”

Politico: “Donald Trump suggested he may not accept the results of the 2024 election in the key swing state of Wisconsin in an interview with the state’s largest newspaper, where he also falsely claimed he won the state in 2020.”

Associated Press: “[Trump] is flooding the airwaves and his social media platform with distortions, misinformation and unfounded conspiracy theories about his defeat.”

NBC News: “Re-litigating the 2020 election, repeating false claims it was stolen and casting aspersions on the security of mail voting remain major fixtures for [Trump] on the stump. … He regularly refers to the 2020 election as ‘rigged’ on his social media channels.”

Associated Press: “Trump, running for the White House for the third time, has signaled that the 2020 election will remain an integral part of his 2024 presidential bid.”

Trump has threatened political violence and warned of a “bloodbath” if he loses in November, and he is vowing to be a dictator on “day one” if he wins.

TIME: “Donald Trump Says Political Violence ‘Depends’ on ‘Fairness’ of 2024 Election”

Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN: “Many people have lost American presidential elections over the last 230 years – Trump is the only one to say about violence if he loses ‘it depends.’”

NBC News: “Trump says there will be a ‘bloodbath’ if he loses the election”

Rolling Stone: “Trump Says There Will Be a ‘Bloodbath’ and Elections Will End if He Isn’t Reelected”

New York Times: “Trump Defends His Warning of a ‘Blood Bath for the Country’”

The Atlantic: “Trump Says He’ll Be a Dictator on ‘Day One’”

Associated Press: “Trump declines to rule out abusing power to seek retribution if he returns to the White House”

Washington Post: “Trump calls political enemies ‘vermin,’ echoing dictators Hitler, Mussolini”

The Guardian: “Donald Trump vows to lock up political enemies if he returns to White House.”