U.S. Military Unlikely to Intervene in Election
The Claim
If U.S. President Donald Trump loses the upcoming presidential election and does not leave office, the military will force him to step down.
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Emerging story
During an interview with Trevor Noah in June 2020, Democratic President-Elect Joe Biden admitted his fear that President Trump may not relinquish his power even if he loses. Trump has teased this possibility due to his doubts on the integrity of a mail-in election. In August 2020, the claim went viral on social media.
Misbar’s Analysis
In the case that Trump does in fact refuse to leave office, Biden stated that he was “absolutely convinced [the military] will escort him from the White House with great dispatch.” Former Vice President Al Gore recently echoed the same sentiment. Both fully believed that military intervention would be inevitable if Trump does not vacate the White House.
However, Misbar's investigation found that a recent press release from General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, disputed Biden’s claim. Milley claims that he believes in “the principle of an apolitical U.S. military,” and will not step in to decide the election no matter what happens. According to the top general, it is the duty of the government to sort out their own affairs, not the military.
About if Trump would accept the election results, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said: "The president has always said he'll see what happens and make a determination in the aftermath. It's the same thing he said last election.”
While military intervention in the election seems unlikely, only time will tell.
