Trump campaign dramatically shifts tone with election statement

Weeks of court cases are likely as the Trump campaign promises to fight every step of the way

Donald Trump’s campaign has vowed to fight the US election in the courts, insisting in a defiant Friday morning statement that Democrats are attempting to steal the election with “illegal ballots”.

Friday’s statement was markedly different in tone to Thursday’s, when he issued an all-caps scream that Democrats were attempting to “STEAL THE ELECTION FROM US”.

On Friday, the campaign spoke instead of transparency, democratic principals and the integrity of the vote.

"This is about the integrity of our entire election process. 

“From the beginning we have said that all legal ballots must be counted and all illegal ballots should not be counted, yet we have met resistance to this basic principle by Democrats at every turn.”

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The Trump campaign has claimed, without providing any evidence, that ballots cast after the polls closed on Tuesday were being counted.

On Wednesday night Mr Trump, from the White House press briefing room, claimed that windows were being boarded up to prevent monitors from observing the counting process - something for which there was no evidence.

Mr Trump added that election monitors were “using binoculars” to try and keep tabs on the process.

The campaign also said they were prepared to fight through the courts.

The team on Wednesday filed suits in Michigan and Georgia, which were blocked on Thursday.

They have also sued in Nevada, and said they will seek a recount in Wisconsin.

“We will pursue this process through every aspect of the law to guarantee that the American people have confidence in our government,” the campaign said. 

"I will never give up fighting for you and our nation.”