Josh Shapiro ‘fully expects’ Donald Trump to lie, declare victory early regardless of results

Josh Shapiro remains confident about Pennsylvania’s election remaining free and fair even though Donald Trump is laying the groundwork for false election claims. 

Gov. Josh Shapiro told reporters on Thursday that he “fully expects” Donald Trump to lie about next week’s election results when asked about the possibility of Trump, regardless of the outcome, declaring victory on Election Day. 

“We fully expect Donald Trump to lie about our elections. I fully expect Scott Perry to lie about our elections. Why do I expect that? Because they did it last time. Because they’re the ones who are out spreading the mis- and disinformation,” Shapiro told reporters in Carlisle on Thursday. 

Trump has been sharing conspiracy theories and priming his Pennsylvania supporters about the possibility of a rigged election throughout the campaign. 

When Trump returned to Butler County earlier this month, he urged supporters to “stop the steal,” and called the upcoming election “too big to rig.” 

He then shared false claims of voter suppression on Truth Social about Pennsylvania’s in-state early voting, which allows voters to apply for and fill out their main-in ballot at county elections offices. 

Voters in Bucks County were faced with long lines due to the high number of people showing up to apply for their ballot and vote in person in the lead up to last Tuesday’s deadline to apply for a ballot. Republicans in the county sued to extend the deadline and claimed voter suppression. 

“Stay in line, don’t let anyone turn you away and silence your voice,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “We need to make it TOO BIG TO RIG!“

Shapiro remains confident that Pennsylvania will be able to carry out a “free and fair, safe and secure,” election next week. 

“All I can do is focus on making sure that our state apparatus is working closely with the county apparatus so that legal eligible voters are able to cast their ballots,” Shapiro said.

“I’ll remind you that we had a free and fair, safe and secure election in 2020, notwithstanding the fact that Donald Trump and his enablers sued us 43 different times. I was the Attorney General back then. Trump went  0 and 43. I went 43 and 0, and we had a free and fair, safe and secure election, and we will do so again this time.”