Donald Trump 'Raised' Idea Of Using Martial Law To Overturn Election Result In Meeting

Donald Trump raised the idea of using martial law to overturn the result of the presidential election at a meeting on Friday (18 December), the New York Times reports.

Joe Biden is due to take office in a month's time, having won with 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232.

PA

However, Trump is yet to concede and - according to sources briefed on the meeting who spoke to the New York Times - the current president even asked about the idea of deploying the military to help rerun the election, which has previously been floated by former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

The idea was quickly dismissed, according to White House correspondent Maggie Haberman.

She wrote on Twitter: "During the meeting, the president asked about Flynn's suggestion of deploying the military, those briefed said. That was also shot down."

Trump has since dismissed the report as 'fake news'.

Flynn had previously called for Trump to impose martial law in swing states and 'rerun' the election.

In 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and the president pardoned him in late November.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Trump's aides are concerned he may 'refuse to leave' the White House peacefully following a 'temper tantrum'.

According to reports, the White House has 'turned crazy' over recent weeks, with some aides worried Trump won't budge easily.

He's even reported to have told advisers that he will refuse to leave on Biden's inauguration date in January 2021 - leaving some of his aides alarmed.

An adviser is quoted as having told CNN: "He's throwing a f***ing temper tantrum. He's going to leave. He's just lashing out."

The report goes on to state that few aides have taken his threats to stay in the White House seriously.

And while it's been reported that Trump won't leave the White House, some on the right are claiming Biden will be removed if he ever makes it there.

Speaking at a pro-Trump rally earlier this month, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones said Biden will be removed from office 'one way or another'.

Standing on a stage during the rally in Washington DC, Jones said the incumbent was the 'best president the country had ever had'.

Joe Biden's inauguration will take place on 20 January 2021.

Topics: US News, Donald Trump, Politics

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey