'Peter Navarro Is Lying': Critics Slam Trump Adviser's Claim Biden Inauguration Could Be Delayed

Peter Navarro, a top adviser to President Donald Trump, drew substantial criticism after he claimed during an interview with Fox News host Jeanine Pirro that President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration could be delayed.

The Constitution explicitly sets Inauguration Day as January 20. The 20th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1933, states: "The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January," adding that "the terms of their successors shall then begin."

But Navarro insisted in his Saturday interview with Pirro that this date could be adjusted.

A growing number of House and Senate Republicans have announced a long-shot effort to overturn Biden's victories in several key battleground states by objecting to their electoral votes when they are formally counted in Congress on Wednesday. This effort is widely expected to fail, but a group of GOP senators led by Senator Ted Cruz of Texas plan to object, demanding a 10-day extension to audit the results—despite multiple audits and recounts already having been carried out in key swing states.

"Vice President Pence [who serves as president of the Senate], he has the authority to give that 10-day window to do what needs to get done and I cannot imagine when he looks at the facts he won't vote the right way on that," Navarro, who serves as Trump's director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, told Pirro.

When Pirro pointed out that the inauguration would still need to move forward on January 20, Navarro argued it did not.

"Well it can be changed actually. We can go past that date. We can go past that date if we need to," he said.

Many on social media were quick to criticize Navarro for disregarding the Constitution.

"Peter Navarro is lying on both points. Pence has no authority to do anything other than open an envelope and hand the contents to congressional clerks who add the totals of electoral votes. Inauguration Day January 20 is in the constitution. It can't be changed," MSNBC host and political commentator Lawrence O'Donnell tweeted.

Former GOP Congressman Joe Walsh, who ran a failed 2020 primary challenge against Trump, strongly criticized Navarro's remarks and Fox News.

"F*** Peter Navarro. F*** @JudgeJeanine. F*** @FoxNews. You all are attacking our democracy and inciting violence. We will fight to defend our democracy against your attacks. F*** you all," Walsh wrote on Twitter.

"What banana republic is Navarro living in?" Katie Phang, a legal contributor to NBC News and MSNBC posted.

"Trump advisor Peter Navarro says on Fox News tonight that VP Pence has the authority to reschedule Inauguration Day — which is as ludicrous as it gets. The Constitution clearly says it must be on January 20," journalist Hugo Lowell tweeted.

The effort by Republican lawmakers to object to states' results is not expected to succeed. In order for an objection to be sustained, both the Senate and House of Representatives would need to vote separately to accept it. Neither the Democrat-controlled House or the narrowly GOP-controlled Senate are expected to approve any objections. But Pence voiced support for the Republican efforts over the weekend.

"The egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic. The congressional power to reject electors is reserved for the most extreme and unusual circumstances. These are far from it," Senator Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican, said in a Saturday statement.

Along with Romney, GOP Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania have all publicly opposed the Republican efforts to object. Last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, urged his GOP Senate colleagues not to back any such efforts as well.

Trump and his loyalist supporters baselessly claim that Biden only won the election through widespread voter fraud. They have not provided evidence to back this extraordinary claim and well over 50 legal challenges filed in state and federal courts have failed.

Multiple judges appointed by Trump and other Republicans have rejected or dismissed the legal challenges brought by the president and his supporters. The president's own U.S. attorney general, William Barr, said in December there was "no evidence" of fraud that would change the election's outcome. Barr later resigned last month.

Newsweek reached out to Navarro and the Biden transition team for comment, but they did not immediately respond.