MAGA Activists Prepare to Undermine 2024 Election Results if Trump Loses
With the 2024 election approaching, MAGA activists are laying the groundwork to challenge the results if Donald Trump loses. The “Stop the Steal” movement, which previously attempted to overturn Trump’s 2020 defeat, has returned with renewed tactics.
These activists have spent months priming Trump supporters to believe that fraud is the only explanation if Trump loses again. Their plans include filing lawsuits, pressuring lawmakers to block certification, and organizing protests, all building up to January 6, 2025, the day Congress will certify the results.
“I have a plan and strategy,” said Ivan Raiklin, a former Green Beret connected to Trump’s circle, addressing a group in Pennsylvania. “And then January 6th is going to be pretty fun.” Trump’s allies have amplified these narratives through podcasts, megachurch sermons, and rallies, framing the election as a battle between good and evil. Some have labeled Kamala Harris as the “antichrist” or even claimed that God has “chosen” Trump to lead.
In 2020, Trump’s efforts to contest the election results were largely improvised and ultimately failed. This time, MAGA activists have organized earlier and are strategizing more extensively.
Despite a 2022 law that makes overturning certified election results harder, experts warn that Trump’s supporters are more determined and, in some cases, more extreme. Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, have issued warnings that election-related extremist rhetoric could incite violence.
Unfounded Fraud Claims and Concerns of Violence
Baseless claims of a “stolen” election have been on the rise within the MAGA movement. Right-wing broadcaster Emerald Robinson recently alleged that extended vote counting in certain states enables cheating, stating, “It doesn’t take days to get election results.
It takes days to cheat.” Patrick Byrne, former CEO of Overstock, warned on social media of a cyberattack that could “rig the election” and result in “death and cannibalism” if Americans don’t act. Tennessee pastor Greg Locke predicted that a “man-made storm” would disrupt the election, suggesting it was part of a plot to steal votes.
Some MAGA supporters argue that Democratic governors or members of Congress could block certification of a legitimate Trump win. Others propose that state legislatures simply ignore election results and allocate electors to Trump.
This idea gained attention recently when Rep. Andy Harris of the House Freedom Caucus suggested that North Carolina could allocate its electors to Trump due to voter issues from a recent hurricane. Although he later walked back his comments, the proposal highlights how far some activists are willing to go.
Concerns about political violence are also growing. Threats and incidents have already occurred, including assassination attempts on Trump, shootings at Democratic offices, and suspicious packages sent to election sites. Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn recently suggested that delays in election results could lead to violence, claiming, “People are so upset after 2020.”
As the election draws near, MAGA activists appear ready to take drastic measures to contest the outcome, while election officials and law enforcement prepare for potential unrest. The 2024 election is shaping up to be a high-stakes battle over the future of American democracy.
