Trump’s claim of ‘cheating’ in Philadelphia refuted by officials

Donald Trump has already made unsupported claims of fraud and interference in the 2024 presidential election, levelling allegations at the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before polls even closed.

In a message on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, “A lot of talk of massive cheating in Philadelphia. Law enforcement coming!”

Officials in Philadelphia swiftly rejected his claims, which echo those he made in 2020, pointing out the integrity of the ongoing electoral process.

Seth Bluestein, Philadelphia’s city commissioner, called Trump’s claims “unfounded” and reaffirming that the city’s elections are being conducted fairly.

“We are closely monitoring for irregularities to ensure that Philadelphians can vote safely and securely,” Bluestein stated.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner also dismissed Trump’s allegations. Speaking on X (formerly Twitter), he noted, “There is no factual basis in these allegations.”

Krasner added, “We have been inviting complaints and allegations of improprieties all day. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild claims, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath.”

Philadelphia is a crucial city for Democrats, one of the seven major swing states, offering 19 critical electoral votes that could be decisive in the election outcome. Trump narrowly won Pennsylvania in 2020, traditionally been a red-leaning state, albeit with a razor-thin margin.

Shortly after his initial post, Trump took to his platform again, this time alleging that police had also been deployed in Detroit, Michigan.

Like Pennsylvania, Michigan is a pivotal state. Its voters are also weighing in on several competitive downballot races that could affect both chambers of Congress and the state legislature.

In the 2020 election, Trump’s campaign filed multiple lawsuits in several states, including Pennsylvania, alleging election fraud. This year, he has said he will not contest the results provided there is “a fair election”.