In light of the 2020 race being called for Joe Biden and President Trump refusing to concede, the balance of power in Washington, D.C. is also in the spotlight. Both of Georgia’s senate races were too close to call, resulting in dual runoff elections scheduled for January 5 of next year. The winners of those runoffs will determine the balance of power in the Senate, either by granting Republicans a majority or by splitting it directly down the middle, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris acting as a tie-breaking vote and cementing greater legislative opportunity for Democrats.
PBS NewsHour White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor explained that the president’s rhetoric — and that of Republican leaders who support his efforts to cast doubt on the integrity of the election — aims to keep his base energized and eager to turn out in January in order to secure Republican control of the Senate. But she added that Trump is also likely considering his legacy as he confronts the reality of leaving the White House, and how to craft a narrative that will benefit his aspirations once he’s no longer in office. Those aspirations could include running for president again in 2024 or perhaps establishing a media presence in order to continue messaging to his supporters.
“Most people I talk to say that President Trump is going to be around for a long time, whether he’s in the White House or outside screaming at Joe Biden,” Alcindor said while answering audience questions about the state of Trump’s lawsuits alongside fellow PBS NewsHour correspondent Amna Nawaz on Nov. 13.
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