President Trump again cast doubt on Spencer Pratt’s Los Angeles mayoral election results, arguing that action is needed to address what he described as “crooked” elections in the United States.
In an interview with Newsmax’s Greg Kelly focused on election integrity ahead of Trump’s planned Speech to the Nation on Thursday, the president pointed to Pratt’s slide from second place in the June mayoral primary after initially posting strong Election Day numbers.
“Spencer Pratt was an easy number two and maybe number one, but certainly number two. And all of the sudden they had the mail-in ballots pour in and Spencer Pratt was gone,” Trump said.
He went on to criticize the outcome, referring to City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who moved into second place and secured a spot in the November general election. “And who beat him was a no-name who was all of the sudden so great. And she got practically 100% of the vote, or the mail-in the ballot,” Trump said.
Trump said “rigged elections” must be “straightened out,” renewing his call for voter ID requirements and denouncing mail-in voting as “corrupt” and “crooked.”
Pratt met with Trump at the White House last week, later posting a photo from the Oval Office following the launch of his new media group, the WAR Foundation.
According to Pratt, the organization will use “hard-hitting media, investigative research, educational campaigns, and strategic partnerships in government and media” to advance its mission.
The former reality television personality mounted an anti-establishment mayoral campaign driven largely by social media, viral videos and sharp criticism of city officials over homelessness, public safety and the response to the Palisades Fire, which destroyed his home.
After Pratt failed to reach November’s runoff election, Trump urged him to dispute the June primary loss.
“Spencer Pratt…He shouldn’t go away quietly. He should protest because it was, in my very strong opinion, that was a rigged election,” Trump said last month.
