Advisers Suggest Donald Trump Declare Victory Prematurely in Key Battleground States, But Uncertainty Remains

 

Advisers close to Donald Trump have reportedly suggested that he should consider declaring victory on election night if he is ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris in key battleground states like Pennsylvania. According to sources familiar with the discussions, some of Trump’s inner circle believe he has nothing to lose if he holds a significant lead—particularly a several-hundred-thousand-vote advantage—in states like Pennsylvania, even if results are not fully confirmed on the night of the election.

The advice to declare victory early stems from the belief that a sizable lead would be enough to make a premature victory claim plausible, especially if his internal polling suggests he is on track to win. However, even Trump’s staunchest allies, such as former White House strategist Steve Bannon, have cautioned that Trump should hold off on announcing a win if the race is closer when he heads to bed, to avoid looking overconfident or potentially foolish.

While Trump’s campaign has conveyed optimism in the final days of the election, raising expectations for his supporters, it is not yet clear if he will act on the advice to declare victory. Trump's aides acknowledge that if the former president is determined to make such a declaration, he is likely to do so regardless of their counsel, underscoring the unpredictable nature of his approach to the election process.

In contrast to his confident and well-documented plans in 2020 to declare victory early, Trump has been less vocal about his intentions for election night this time around. He recently stated, “It looks like we have a very substantial lead,” adding that the results should be called if Republicans have a clear advantage.

Trump will be watching the election results from a private event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, where he is expected to project a sense of winning to attendees. Whether he will make a public declaration of victory at his official campaign watch party at a nearby convention center, or at Mar-a-Lago, remains uncertain. Some advisers have suggested that if Trump chooses to declare himself the winner, he may motorcade over to the convention center to make an appearance, but if not, he may remain at Mar-a-Lago.

The scenario has left many wondering whether Trump will repeat the kind of premature claims that defined his 2020 election night, as the nation braces for what promises to be a contentious election night.