Fact check: Was the 2020 election stolen from Donald Trump?

1. Summary of the results

The evidence overwhelmingly shows that the 2020 election was not stolen from Donald Trump. Multiple independent investigations, legal challenges, and audits have consistently reached this conclusion:

• 64 court cases were filed by Trump's team, with only one minor victory that didn't affect the outcome ^[1]
• A detailed investigation by the Associated Press in six battleground states found disputed ballots represented only 0.15% of Biden's margin of victory ^[2]
• Hand count audits, such as the one in Antrim County, Michigan, verified the election results with only minor, inconsequential variations ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

While claims of fraud have been thoroughly debunked, it's important to understand:

• 39% of Americans believed the election was "rigged" ^[4], highlighting a significant trust gap in electoral processes
• Multiple attempts were made by Republican officials and activists to illegally access voting systems after the election, searching for evidence of fraud ^[5]
• Specific allegations were investigated and refuted, including:
• Claims about Dominion voting machines were explicitly denied by Edison Research and Dominion Voting Systems ^[6]
• Allegations about dead voters were investigated and found to be mostly clerical errors ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The narrative of a "stolen election" has been promoted despite:

• Election security officials declaring the 2020 election secure ^[1]
• Multiple authoritative sources, including members of Trump's own administration, refuting fraud claims ^[2]
• The BBC's investigation finding no credible evidence supporting claims about voter turnout, ballot counting, or voting machine manipulation ^[6]

Those benefiting from promoting the "stolen election" narrative include:

• Political figures seeking to maintain influence over their base
• Media outlets catering to specific political demographics
• Organizations fundraising off election fraud claims
• Political activists seeking to change voting laws based on fraud concerns