--- title: Donald Trump Defends Electoral College, Popular Vote Total description: Donald Trump said he would have campaigned differently if he had been trying to win the popular vote, defending the Electoral College canonical: https://time.com/4571185/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote/ author: Katie Reilly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-11-15T15:08:33.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T06:54:17.860Z article:section: Politics og:title: Donald Trump: I Would Have Won the Popular Vote if I Tried og:description: "The Electoral College is actually genius" og:url: https://time.com/4571185/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6d6905e031ba604b/6988ae87cf40a80682c4590b/donald-trump-electoral-college-popular-vote.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4029 og:image:height: 2266 og:image:alt: Republican presidential elect Donald Trump meets with og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Donald Trump: I Would Have Won the Popular Vote if I Tried twitter:description: "The Electoral College is actually genius" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6d6905e031ba604b/6988ae87cf40a80682c4590b/donald-trump-electoral-college-popular-vote.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Donald Trump: I Would Have Won the Popular Vote if I Tried > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=a2f24efc-cc84-429d-b954-37a4e7391e77&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Twice a week | time.com/newsletters, September 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * D.C. Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=a2f24efc-cc84-429d-b954-37a4e7391e77&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/subscribe?i=a2f24efc-cc84-429d-b954-37a4e7391e77&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's politics newsletter? D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=a2f24efc-cc84-429d-b954-37a4e7391e77&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Donald Trump Runs for President: A Look Back [Watch (HLS stream): Donald Trump Runs for President: A Look Back](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dgn8DCbB.m3u8) (7:19)  _Published 2016-10-31. In one of the most shocking U.S. elections in modern political history, Donald Trump has defeated Hillary Clinton._  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Nov 15, 2016 3:08 PM UTC  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Nov 15, 2016 3:08 PM UTC Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would have campaigned differently if he had been trying to win the popular vote, defending the [existence of the Electoral College](http://time.com/4558510/electoral-college-history-slavery/) a week after he was elected President of the United States despite what looks like a narrow popular vote win for Hillary Clinton. “If the election were based on total popular vote I would have campaigned in N.Y. Florida and California and won even bigger and more easily,” [the President-elect tweeted](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/798519600413601792) on Tuesday morning. “The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different!” While Trump won the Electoral College, Clinton will likely win the popular vote. Although some states are still counting votes, Clinton currently leads Trump by a margin of 671,246 votes overall, according to the [Associated Press tally](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/features/2016-election-results/) as of Monday night. Trump’s opinion on the Electoral College has changed. When then-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney lost the election in 2012, Trump [criticized the Electoral College](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/266038556504494082), calling it a “disaster for a democracy.” During his [_60 Minutes_ interview](http://time.com/4569534/donald-trump-60-minutes-interview/) on Sunday, Trump was asked whether he still believed the political system, including the Electoral College, was “rigged,” as he [often claimed during his campaign](http://time.com/4535364/donald-trump-rigged-election-fact-check/). “I’m not going to change my mind just because I won,” Trump said. “But I would rather see it where you went with simple votes. You know, you get 100 million votes and somebody else gets 90 million votes and you win. There’s a reason for doing this because it brings all the states into play—Electoral College, and there’s something very good about that. But this is a different system. But I respect it. I do respect the system.” Under the “simple votes” system referenced by Trump, Clinton would have won the presidential election. ## Transcript I am officially running Aah, yeah [ APPLAUSE ]. for President of the United States [ APPLAUSE ] and we are going to make our country great again. The American Dream is dead, but if I get elected President I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again. I was called by a major major reporter whose name I won't use. And he said to me what you've done has never been done Male 1: In the history of United States politics. And more and more people are resonating to what I'm saying. That's why I'm leading in every poll. We will have so much winning if I get elected that you may get bored with winning. I think I have to win. I'm about winning. Male 2: It's been amazing to follow and exciting because you say some shocking Things [ LAUGH ] You've called women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slabs, and disgusting animals. Your Twitter account. Only Rosie O'Donnell Look at those hands, are they small hands? And he referred to my hands, if they're small something else must be small. I guarantee you there's no problem there, I guarantee it. I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose any voters okay? You gotta see this guy, I don't know what I said. I don't remember. [ APPLAUSE ] Here's a guy throwing punches, nasty as hell, screaming and everything else when we're talking. I mean what can happen, and we're not allowed, you know the guards are very gently with him, he's walking out like big high fives. Smiling, laughing, like to punch him in the face. [ APPLAUSE ] USA! USA! USA! When Mexico sends their people, they're not bringing their best. They're sending drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapist. I will build a great great wall On our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall. The former president of Mexico Vicente Fox, he said today, and I'm quoting him. He said, I'm not going to pay for that quote, F'ing wall. How are you going to make them pay for the wall? I will and the wall just got ten feet taller, believe me. Zero tolerance for criminal aliens, zero, zero. Now a different threat challenges the whole world. Radical Islamic Terrorism. Donald J Trump is calling for a total and complete shut down. Of Muslims entering the United States. Donald Trump, let me ask you, have you even read the United States Constitution? You have sacrificed nothing, and no one [ APPLAUSE ] I think I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs. Built great structures. I've had tremendous success. Those are sacrifices? Sure I think they're sacrifices. [ MUSIC ] As the proud daughter of your nominee I am here to tell you this is the moment and Donald Trump is the person to make America great again. [ LAUGH ] I humbly and gratefully accept. Your nomination for the presidency of the United States. And we will make America great again. God Bless you and good night. I love you. [ Music ] Ladies and gentlemen, the Republican nominee for President, Donald J. Trump. And the Democratic nominee for President Hilary Clinton . >> You're telling the enemy everything you wanted to do . >> No we're not . >> See. you're telling the enemy everything you wanted to do . >> There are different . >> Secretary, is it President Obama's fault? Wrong >> That is absolutely Wrong . >> Prove over and over again. Wrong. I also have a much better temperament than she has, you know? If Hillary knew how she would have done it already, period, end of story. I won the debate, I stayed calm just like I promised, and it is over. Goodnight, [ INAUDIBLE ]. [ LAUGH ] I better use some Tic Tacs just in case I start kissing her. You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful. I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. [ LAUGH ] Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Whatever you want. Grab them by the ****. I've said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade old video Are one of them. This is nothing more than a distraction from the important issues we're facing today. You bragged that you have sexually assaulted women, do you understand that? No I didn't say that at all. I don't think you understood what was said. This was lock Locker room talk . >> Just breaking a damning report from the New York Times that claims Donald Trump inappropriately touched two women, the first nearly [ INAUDIBLE ] That more women now accuse Donald Trump of improper physical contact . >> The People Magazine writer who said that Donald Trump kissed her and groped her in 2005 while she was interviewing him and his then pregnant wife Melania . >> These vicious claims About me, of inappropriate conduct with women. Are totally, and absolutely false. I didn't know any of these women, I didn't see these women. And I didn't even apologize to my wife, who's sitting right here, cuz I didn't do anything. Thank you. Do you make the same commitment that you will absolutely, Sir, that you will absolutely accept the result of this election? I will look at it at the time. I'm not looking at anything now, I'll look at it at the time. And I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election. If I win. [ APPLAUSE ] [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4571185/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4571185/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote/"},"headline":"Donald Trump: I Would Have Won the Popular Vote if I Tried","datePublished":"2016-11-15T15:08:33.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-07T06:54:17.860Z","description":"\"The Electoral College is actually genius\"","url":"https://time.com/4571185/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote/","keywords":["2016 Election","2016 Election","White House","Donald Trump"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6d6905e031ba604b/6988ae87cf40a80682c4590b/donald-trump-electoral-college-popular-vote.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katie Reilly","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6d6905e031ba604b/6988ae87cf40a80682c4590b/donald-trump-electoral-college-popular-vote.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Republican presidential elect Donald Trump meets with","caption":"Republican presidential elect Donald Trump meets with","creditText":"Jabin Botsford—The Washington Post/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/2016-election/","name":"2016 Election"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4571185/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote/","name":"Donald Trump: I Would Have Won the Popular Vote if I Tried"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Donald Trump Runs for President: A Look Back","description":"In one of the most shocking U.S. elections in modern political history, Donald Trump has defeated Hillary Clinton.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/dgn8DCbB/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-10-31T20:49:27.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dgn8DCbB.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4571185/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote/","duration":"PT7M19S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4571185/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```