Donald Trump’s ‘rigged’ US election claims might spark violence and large riots in streets

Fears that America could descend into violence are mounting as Donald Trump ramps up claims his election battle against Kamala Harris has been rigged against him.

As America prepares to head to the polls on Tuesday, the former president has been reverting to his 2020 playbook that led to the January 6 riot. At rally after rally, Trump has been urging his supporters to deliver a victory over the Democrats that is “too big to rig”. He told an event in Arizona last Thursday: “The only thing that can stop us is the cheating.”

He has repeatedly refused to say whether he will accept the results, regardless of outcome. And he has claimed cheating is already underway, citing debunked claims or outrageous theories with no basis in reality. Throughout his final rallies, Trump has repeated his “stolen election” claims, with pollsters and election officials all sounding alarms.

Joanna Lydgate, chief executive of the United Democracy Centre, said: “It’s been four years of spreading lies about elections, recruiting volunteers to challenge the system and filing litigation. What we’re seeing today is all of that coming to fruition.”

The Centre has been working with officials to shore up election security, but warns Trump’s false claims have strained the system, potentially undermining public confidence in the results.

Final polling shows Harris has renewed strength in critical states like North Carolina and Georgia, while Trump has eaten into her lead in Pennsylvania and is in front in Arizona.

Polls reveal a race too close to call, particularly in swing states, and Trump has primed supporters for “a rigged election”.

Built on the belief the 2020 election was illegitimate, MAGA groups have been spreading claims of fraud, in preparation for any contested result. Trump has called Democrats “a bunch of cheats” and has joined allies in promoting distorted reports of mishaps and technical issues at polling stations to cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process.

They have also seized on polling and bookies’ odds to claim Trump, as his tycoon ally Elon Musk said, is set for a “crushing victory” in the election.

Should Harris win, Trump and his team have set the stage for disbelief, if not outrage. Like four years ago, it has been claimed Trump will declare victory before all votes are counted. Such a move was central to his bid to remain in power after his 2020 defeat and fuelled the deadly violence at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In recent weeks, he has falsely stated that voting by non-citizens is widespread, that overseas and military ballots lack verification, and accused election officials of using early voting to commit fraud. He has even claimed that “massive swathes of mail-in ballots” are illegitimate, even though he has encouraged his own supporters to vote by post. At a rally in Pennsylvania yesterday Trump told them he “shouldn’t have left” the White House in 2021.

Voter Bill Robinson, 65, believes it is inevitable that this election will end in violence, especially after the two assassination attempts against the former president. The retired marketing professional from North Carolina, who attended Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally last week, said: “It’s a horrendous possibility because it looks like there’s no other option than some kind of extreme unrest.”

MAGA fan Matt Anderson said of Harris: “There’s no way she can naturally win an election, naturally.” And if she does win, he believes “there is fraud that needs to be investigated”. With such a close race, even a small polling error could be vital.

More than 70 million Americans have already cast ballots, with early data giving Harris an eight-point lead. Trump, meanwhile, has a lead among those who plan to vote tomorrow.

Harris made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live at the weekend. In a sketch with her impersonator, Maya Rudolph, a smiling Harris told her: “It’s nice to see you, Kamala.” She then urged supporters to “Keep Kamala and carry-on-ala”,

She won support from Hollywood actress Demi Moore, 61, who posted a picture of herself wearing an “I voted” badge, writing: “Excited to have cast my vote for #HarrisWalz.” Trump’s final campaign events have cast the election as a battle for the future of America, warning of “radical socialism” under a Harris administration.

US political watcher Patrick Finn told the Mirror : “If Harris wins, she faces the immense task of uniting a fractured nation, with millions primed to believe that her victory was only possible through fraud. If Trump prevails, it will be seen as a vindication of his populist movement, likely deepening the existing divides. Many fear that Trump’s rhetoric could trigger chaos if he loses, with civil unrest again a real threat. The stakes have seldom been higher.”

‘Bent on revenge’

By Mikey Smith, Mirror Deputy Political Editor in Philadelphia

Donald Trump is angry and, Democrats fear, out for revenge. There will be few if any in a second term who can soothe his temper or quiet his darker urges. At his rallies, he paints refugees as murderous gang members “invading” America’s cities. He’s vowed to “round up” undocumented migrants and deport them at once. And Democrats have drawn attention to a document called Project 2025, which they believe will be a blueprint for a second Trump term.

It outlines how a President could directly control government departments, overhaul the FBI and shut the Department for Education. Abortion would be curbed and pregnancies monitored. Trump has also railed against culture war targets, chiefly trans people. His other main focus is in trade policy. He’s pledged a 10% tax on imports and to raise tariffs on China imports by 60%. A free trade deal with the UK is unlikely. Internationally, Trump promises to end US involvement in conflicts and would move to end US help for Ukraine.

However he vows total support for Israel and is likely to seek close ties with “strongman” leaders like Vladimir Putin.