Former President Donald Trump has told ABC News that he could potentially lose the presidential race to Vice President Kamala Harris, acknowledging the razor-thin margins in the polls and suggesting unforeseen outcomes may arise.
Speaking to ABC’s chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl on Sunday, Trump was asked whether he could envision any scenario where he might lose to Harris. Trump, known for his confidence in past campaigns, responded with uncharacteristic openness.
“Yeah, I guess, you know,” he said. “I guess you could lose, can lose. I mean, that happens, right?” He added, “But I think I have a pretty substantial lead. But, you could say — yeah, yeah, you could lose. Bad things could happen. You know, things happen, but it’s going to be interesting.”
The comments from Trump come as both his campaign and Harris’s battle it out in an extraordinarily close race. National polls, including the latest Decision Desk HQ/The Hill average, show both Trump and Harris neck-and-neck with each capturing 48.3% of the vote.
In the seven swing states most likely to determine the election outcome, polls show little to no significant separation, making the race one of the closest in American history.
Despite the tight race, Trump’s statement reflects a departure from his previous rhetoric. He has often suggested that any loss would be due to “fraud or malfeasance,” a view that some interpret as casting preemptive doubt on the election’s legitimacy.
With his “bad things could happen” remark, Trump may be subtly alluding to this belief without directly addressing it. Harris’s campaign has anticipated this approach and has said it is prepared for any attempts by Trump to prematurely claim victory as a way to signal his supporters.
The implications of Trump’s comments could be far-reaching. For many observers, they indicate that Trump, while outwardly confident, may be preparing his base for the possibility of a defeat.
Political analyst Paul Henderson remarked, “It’s an interesting shift in tone from Trump. Even though he maintains that he has a lead, acknowledging the prospect of a loss could be his way of conditioning supporters for what’s ultimately an unpredictable election.”
Harris, meanwhile, has been mobilizing her base in the final days leading up to Tuesday. Appearing at a star-studded rally in Philadelphia on Sunday evening, she encouraged voters to turn out in high numbers and highlighted her commitment to issues such as healthcare, education, and economic equality.
Harris supporters, energized by the close race, are aiming to turn narrow polling leads in key states into decisive victories.
Both campaigns have indicated that they expect the election results to be known by late Tuesday night. Asked by Karl when he might address the country on Election Day, Trump responded, “I’ll be out there at the right time.”
The battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina remain key to both candidates.
In these states, polling varies by only a few percentage points, meaning any minor shift could lead to a decisive victory for either Trump or Harris. A slight polling error, favoring one candidate by even one or two points, could dramatically impact the overall outcome.
Experts and voters alike are bracing for an intense finish to a historically contentious campaign. With no clear front-runner in the final polling averages, it’s clear that Election Night could bring an array of surprises.
Some political analysts warn that a prolonged or contested count is possible, especially in closely watched states with large populations and stringent absentee ballot processing requirements.
The tension is palpable as both Trump and Harris await the verdict. America may wake up Wednesday morning with a new president-elect — or perhaps a drawn-out legal battle over the results. For now, both sides are making their last-minute pitches, rallying supporters, and preparing for whatever may come.
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