Newsmax CEO Thinks Trump Should Concede When States Certify Elections, Would Support Overturning Electoral College
Chistopher Ruddy, the CEO of Newsmax Media, a conservative multimedia platform that has supported President Donald Trump's claims of voter fraud, said in an interview that Trump should concede the race when states certify their elections.
In a conversation with Isaac Chotiner published in The New Yorker on Tuesday, Ruddy discussed his close relationship with Trump and how Newsmax has chosen to support the president in the post-election news cycle.
But when asked whether or not the conservative media outlet would support an attempt by Trump to overturn certified election results, Ruddy said he would not.
"I do think that Donald Trump should concede when the certifications come in," he said, adding that he "would not support going to state legislators to overturn the electors."
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania became the most recent state to certify its election results for Joe Biden, officially naming the former vice president the winner of the state's 20 electoral votes. That certification puts Biden ahead with 306 electoral votes, compared with Trump's 232.
Though Trump's claims of voter fraud have repeatedly failed to gain traction in state courts, Ruddy defended Newsmax's editorial decision to support the president in pursuing legal action.
"I think that the questioning of ballots, and taking that to court, is just as reasonable as when Al Gore did it in the 2000 election," he said. "I think the mail-in ballots opened up potential for voter fraud and manipulation beyond what we've seen in previous years. And that's, I think, the crux of the problem, and why Republicans feel this election was 'stolen,'" he added.
A spokesperson for Newsmax confirmed to Newsweek that they would call the winner of states that have been disputed by Trump based on certifications.
"The position of Newsmax and Mr. Ruddy is that this was an extremely close election, of 1% or less in 5 states, in which the President is challenging the result and asking for a recount. We think he's entitled to that, and should be allowed to have it. We have repeatedly said we will call the winner of those states based on the certifications after the recounts," Anthony Rizzo, an "information specialist" at Newsmax, wrote to Newsweek in an email.
Chotiner pressed Ruddy on whether or not he believed Trump would have claimed voter fraud regardless of the election results.
Ruddy responded by saying that if "Biden won by the numbers that we were told that he was going to win by, Donald Trump would not have had much of an argument to claim voter fraud," and voicing his dislike for the Electoral College.
"It would have been better for the country if the election had been decided with more of a mandate. I'm not a big fan of the Electoral College. I think the Electoral College is a mirage for conservatives. Someday, when Texas goes, and/or Florida, it's going to be a nightmare for Republicans," he said. "I think that it's better if the President is popularly elected, and that Republicans should start thinking in terms of appealing to a national vote, and not trying to get smaller groups and smaller states," he added.
If the president were elected by popular vote, Joe Biden would have won by 6 million more votes than Trump. Though votes are still being counted, Biden has so far received 80 million popular votes, compared with Trump's 74 million.
Ruddy's statements come as Trump and other conservative media outlets continue to push the narrative that the election was stolen due to widespread voter fraud, despite having evidence to back their claims.
On Monday, the General Services Administration began the formal process of transitioning the presidency to the Biden-Harris administration. In response, Trump tweeted that he supported the decision of the GSA but that he will continue fighting in court.
"Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good...fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same," he wrote.
So far, Trump's legal team has had at least 34 cases dismissed or lost in post-election litigation. On Monday, Pennsylvania dismissed another five cases.
