Analysis: Why did Donald Trump suggest an election delay and can he do it? 

Donald Trump was categorical on April 27. “I never even thought of changing the date of the election,” the US president said when asked at a press conference if he would seek a delay.

His Democratic presidential rival, Joe Biden, had just suggested as much, predicting one day Mr Trump would attempt to push back voting day. But the idea was dismissed.

“Why would I do that? November 3rd. It’s a good number,” Mr Trump said breezily. The suggestion was “made-up propaganda”, he added. “I look forward to that election.”

What a difference three months makes. On Thursday, in one of his morning Twitter sessions from the White House, Mr Trump suggested exactly what he had dismissed back in April.

“Delay the election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???” Mr Trump wrote at the end of one tweet, adding three question marks for emphasis.

The suggestion was made in the context of postal votes, an issue that Mr Trump has latched onto in recent months by arguing their use could lead to a “rigged election”.

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