Nobody likes losing. But rather than accepting failure, former President Donald Trump has preferred to tell a big lie. One where he never lost at all, was a victim of a massive voter fraud scheme and Joe Biden was an illegitimate president. However, Trump’s not nearly as original or creative as he portrays himself to be. Republicans and Trump have used a big lie and illegitimacy strategy before.
Even before President Barack Obama was elected in 2008, rumors spread that he was a secret Muslim who was born in Kenya. Trump didn’t originate birtherism, but he became its most prominent promoter, and began calling Obama’s election illegitimate.
There is no truth in Trump’s current claims of massive voter fraud. But, so far, no evidence or lack of evidence has convinced most Republicans that Biden’s win was legitimate.
Someday, the big lie may fade in prominence. But for now, it will continue eroding the foundations of our democracy in a way that the attacks on Obama couldn’t. Birtherism cast doubt on one man. Trump’s current big lie chips away at our entire system. Even if this myth is forgotten, I’m sure another “big lie” will take its place.
