Trump won’t vote early, though he said he would

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and JILL COLVIN

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — Donald Trump is readying to formed his ballot connected Election Day contempt having antecedently said helium would ballot early.

In a vigor interrogation with Fox News big Brian Kilmeade that aired past week, Trump had said that helium intended to aboriginal ballot — thing Kilmeade had suggested mightiness service arsenic an illustration for his supporters. Trump and his run person been urging voters to formed their ballots early, adjacent arsenic the erstwhile president and GOP nominee continues to knock the enactment and sow unfounded doubts astir imaginable fraud.

“I’ll beryllium voting early. I’ll beryllium voting early,” Trump told the host.

But helium won’t. Trump alternatively volition beryllium voting Tuesday greeting adjacent his property successful Palm Beach, Florida, according to a idiosyncratic acquainted with his docket who spoke connected information of anonymity earlier a ceremonial announcement.

Trump’s declaration that helium would ballot aboriginal had travel aft Kilmeade had asked — connected 2 abstracted occasions — whether Trump mightiness bash truthful to “kind of acceptable an example.”

Trump has made wide his trepidations.

“I’m precise mixed connected it,” Trump responded the archetypal time. “I accidental the main happening I accidental is vote.”

Kilmeade past re-asked the question arsenic helium ended the interview, telling Trump that helium “could ballot aboriginal and acceptable an illustration if you wanted to successful Florida. That would beryllium an absorbing decision.”

“Well, you know, it’s interesting. I truly consciousness — I’m precise mixed,” Trump said erstwhile again, pointing to “the aged modular of the Tuesday vote” arsenic good arsenic those who similar to ballot earlier Election Day.

“You know, radical person antithetic feelings astir it. But the main happening is you got to get out, you got to vote. And I’ll beryllium voting early,” helium said.

In the last weeks of the race, Trump has been urging his supporters to slope their votes, with ample signs astatine his rallies spelling out: “VOTE EARLY!”

“I americium telling everyone to ballot early,” Trump said successful a podcast interrogation with Dan Bongino, who has wide dispersed mendacious accusation astir aboriginal voting and the 2020 election.

But Trump often sows doubts astir the process successful the precise aforesaid breath.

“We got to get retired and vote. And you tin commencement close away. You cognize that, right?” helium told his supporters astatine a rally successful Indiana, Pennsylvania successful September. “Now, we person this anserine worldly wherever you tin ballot 45 days early. I wonderment what the hellhole happens during that 45.”

He went connected to picture a hypothetical concern successful which ballots could beryllium tampered with, adjacent though allegations of akin issues successful 2020 were wide disproven. “‘See these votes? We’ve got astir a cardinal votes successful there. Let’s determination them. We’re fixing the aerial conditioner successful the room, right?’ No, it’s terrible,” helium said urging his supporters to present him a triumph “too large to rig.”

Still, Republicans look to beryllium heeding the aboriginal ballot call.

Republicans person been flocking to the polls for in-person voting up of Election Day, with aboriginal turnout breaking records successful plaything states specified arsenic Georgia and North Carolina.

Trump is readying a flurry of events arsenic the the predetermination comes to a close, ramping up his docket during the race’s last stretch.

He’ll clasp 4 rallies Monday that volition see stops successful North Carolina and Pennsylvania, according to the person.

And successful keeping with contented from his archetypal 2 campaigns, helium volition clasp his finale rally successful Grand Rapids, Michigan, connected Monday night.

Colvin reported from New York.

Originally Published: October 31, 2024 astatine 1:07 PM EDT