The Independent uses reporters all over the world to bring you truly independent journalism. To support us, please consider making a contribution.
Donald Trump on Friday reiterated a ‘crazy theory’ that Nancy Pelosi would become president if an election result was delayed due to vote by mail.
As House Speaker, Ms Pelosi is second in line for the presidency behind Mike Pence. The theory is that Ms. Pelosi would go to the White House if a new president was not inaugurated by the end of Mr Trump’s term on the afternoon of January 20, as required by the 20th Amendment.
In the midst of a battle for universal post-vote rights, Mr Trump told the 2020 National Policy Council that widespread post-vote voting could lead to delays of weeks, months, years or “maybe never”.
Download the new Independent Premium app
Share the full story, not just the headlines
“And I do not know what will happen. You know there is a theory that if you did not have it at the end of the year, the crazy Nancy Pelosi would become president. You know that well,” Mr. Trump said.
“Remember that. That crazy theory. You’ve heard that theory. Now I do not know if it’s a theory as a fact, but I said, that’s not good.”
Mr. Trump added: “That’s part of their whole act, that if you do not have the choice of the Speaker of the House of Representatives becoming President and I think that goes into effect on 20th or 1st. And put that in the hopper “Add that to everything else. It’s a shame. They know it’s filthy, dirty.”
The theory first appeared in July after Mr Trump proposed a delay in the election until after the coronavirus pandemic was over so people could vote in person. The hashtag “President Pelosi” trended across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, with Republican Senator Lamar Alexander repeating the theory to CNN reporter Kristin Wilson.
Twitter blocked the original tweet behind a misleading warning label, pointing to a USA Today fact check of the theory that it rated it “false” based on Ms. Pelosi herself leaving office on January 3 if no elections go ahead.
The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that the President and Vice-President must leave office if no successor is elected before the end of their term on January 20th.
While the 1947 Presidential Succession Act stipulates that the next in line of the presidential succession is the Speaker of the House, the Constitution also places an end date on Pelosi’s term on January 3 at noon.
If Ms. Pelosi is not re-elected because of a delayed vote, the following would generally assume that the office of president is the “President Pro Tempore” of the Senate, who is currently Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa .
If no elections were held, however, the 22 Republican Senate seats for re-election would remain empty, giving the Democrats the majority and allowing them to elect a new president Pro Tempore – who would then become president.
But that line of presidential succession is based on the premise that the January 20 election would be delayed, instead of Mr Trump’s latest suggestion that if the election continues with widespread mail-in-vote, the results would be up to the deadline not known.
If the election goes ahead and Ms Pelosi is re-elected with results certified for her January 3 deadline, while results of presidential elections are not certified until after the March 20 deadline of Mr Trump, the “crazy theory” is that she is in the White could be placed House.
“What will happen if you have 150 million votes and you have 51 million, 51 million votes, remember, they will cast 51 million, it could be higher than 51 million votes, no signature on many of them,” he said. Mr. Trump on Friday.
“The other thing is, if you do this, you will never have an election number on November 3rd … You will know the end of these elections, in my opinion, weeks, months, maybe never, maybe years, but maybe never, for once you are past the first week, you will never know. “
.
