President Trump will be asking officials to launch a “major investigation” into whether millions of people illegally voted in the 2016 election, he said Wednesday, continuing to push the demonstrably false claim that his popular vote loss to Hillary Clinton was a product of fraud.
Trump made the announcement in a pair of early-morning Twitter posts, a day after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer confirmed to reporters that the new President “continues to maintain that belief” that 3 to 5 million people cast fraudulent votes last year. There is no evidence to back up that claim, which has been repeatedly debunked by independent experts, fact-checkers and a bipartisan cast of election officials across the country.
“I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and…. even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time),” Trump wrote. “Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!”
Spicer on Tuesday cited “studies and evidence that people have presented” to Trump for his accusation that millions illegally voted for Clinton. The author of one study Spicer alluded to has repeatedly made clear the study does not support that assertion.
Photographing the First Days of Donald Trump's America
A protest called "The Mike Pence Queer Dance Party" outside of Pence's Home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The dance event was organized by LGBTQ activist groups DisruptJ20 and WERK for Peace to protest Mike Pence's record on gay and transgender rights on Jan. 18, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Neighbors and LGBT supporters watch "The Mike Pence Queer Dance Party" protest near Pence's Home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The dance event was organized by LGBTQ activist groups DisruptJ20 and WERK for Peace to protest Mike Pence's record on gay and transgender rights on Jan. 18, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Protestors on their way to the "The Mike Pence Queer Dance Party" protest near Pence's Home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The dance event was organized by LGBTQ activist groups DisruptJ20 and WERK for Peace to protest Mike Pence's record on gay and transgender rights on Jan. 18, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
A woman watches the "The Mike Pence Queer Dance Party" protest near Pence's Home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The dance event was organized by LGBTQ activist groups DisruptJ20 and WERK for Peace to protest Mike Pence's record on gay and transgender rights on Jan. 18, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Attendees at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
The crowd at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Security at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Attendees at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Security at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Attendees at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Attendees at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Crowds waiting for the inauguration of Donald Trump to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
An attendee listens to the inauguration address of Donald Trump, after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Crowds waiting for the inauguration of Donald Trump to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
An attendee reacts to the inauguration address of Donald Trump, after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
A monitors showing the inauguration address of Donald Trump, after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
The crowd reacts to the inauguration address of Donald Trump, after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
An attendee listens to the inauguration address of Donald Trump, after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Crowds waiting for the inauguration of Donald Trump to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
A member of the US Armed Forces at the Salute to Our Armed Services Inaugural Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Members of the US Armed Forces wait for President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during the Salute to Our Armed Services Inaugural Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Members of the US Armed Forces mingle at the Salute to Our Armed Services Inaugural Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
U.S. President Donald Trump applauds members of the armed services during the Armed Services Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
A cake at the Presidential Inaugural Salute to our Armed Services Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Attendees relax at the Women's March on Washington, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 21, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Protestors filling the streets at the Women's March on Washington, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 21, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum Photos for TIME
Various protest groups at the Women's March on Washington, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 21, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Security watching the Women's March on Washington, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 21, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Protestors march to
The White House at the end of Women's March in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 21, 2017.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
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