Thread by @AlexandraErin

So if anybody is reassured by GOP leaders saying "the winner of November's election will be inaugurated in January," I'm going to need you to read up on the Oracle at Delphi.

There's nothing there about the process. There's nothing there about the integrity of the election. I don't think Mitch McConnell is being clever or sneakily honest but when he says the winner on November 3rd will be inaugurated, think about Trump's ranting about instant results.

Trump was never going to stage a coup premised on losing. WHOEVER is inaugurated in January 2021 WILL BE the winner in November, is the premise. The same GOP figures making these statements today will, if needs be, refer to them again in January...

...and say that the Democrats and the media pushed them to make them and now it's come true and it's the same people who are insisting the winner not be inaugurated.

Trump will claim to be the winner on November 3rd, if he sees any opportunity to do so (and the threshold for him seeing an opportunity is much wider than one would think). At that point the promises by GOP politicians become statements of support.

Unless he's shored up his power/support a lot between now and then I think we'll see a slow shift as most GOP pols initially make statements in support of waiting and seeing, being sure, counting all the votes, etc.

But what they will actually be waiting and seeing is what Trump does. Does he back down? Does he come off his position? Or is he still insisting he's the winner? And is the media basically letting him?

If Trump is claiming victory and the media is promoting a "Two different candidates ran for president. Both say they won. What now?" story, the GOP will see that it is up for debate and they'll shift their position to "We won."

Whoever is inaugurated in January 2021 will be the winner in November, in every sense that actually matters. As little as their word is worth, they have promised nothing except to hold an inauguration.