Trump claims he would have won California had Jesus counted the votes

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump said he would have carried solidly Democratic California in the last election if Jesus counted the votes, his latest assertion in his long-standing assault on U.S. elections.

"If we had Jesus Christ come down and count the votes, I would have won California because I do great with Hispanics," Trump told reporters on May 20. "But it's a rigged vote."

Trump lost California in the 2024 election by 20 percentage points to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, an even greater 29 points in the 2020 election to Joe Biden, and by 30 points to Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Trump has long made a habit of arguing he was cheated out of winning Democratic-leaning states, including Minnesota and even bright blue Maryland, as he levels baseless claims of voter fraud and "rigged" elections, particularly over mail-in voting.

It isn't the first time he's invoked Jesus while making false voting claims about California, for decades Democrats' most significant electoral stronghold, which last voted for a Republican nominee for president in 1988. Trump, appearing with television psychologist and ally “Dr. Phil” McGraw, also claimed he would have won California had Jesus Christ counted the votes.

Trump made his latest remarks to reporters after he was asked about the candidacy of Spencer Pratt, a Republican running for mayor of Los Angeles who previously started on the MTV reality television show "The Hills."

"I heard he's a big MAGA person," Trump said. "He's doing well. I don't know. You have a rigged vote out there. That's the problem. You have a really rigged vote in California."

Despite Trump touting his Hispanic support as a strength, recent polling suggests the gains he made with the demographic in the 2024 election have eroded. A New York Times/Siena University poll, released May 18, found 71% of Hispanic voters disapprove of Trump's job performance.

Earlier this week, Trump ordered a federal investigation into elections in Maryland and lashed out at the state's Democratic governor, Wes Moore, after some voters in the state received a mail ballot for the wrong party ahead of the June 23 primary election. The Maryland State Board of Elections said it is sending out new ballots to all 500,000 voters who requested mail ballots, even though officials said the error affected only ballots mailed before May 14.

Trump was riding high Wednesday after his top adversary in Congress, Kentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, lost his primary election the night before to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein, a farmer and former Navy SEAL. The victory for Trump came days after Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, another incumbent Republican opposed by Trump, lost his GOP primary bid.

Trump surprised and disappointed many Republicans in the Senate on Tuesday by endorsing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state's U.S. Senate GOP primary over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Democrats believe Paxton as the Republican nominee in Texas gives them a better chance to flip Texas in November.

Trump said he talked to Senate Republican leadership about his decision. "They'll be alright with it," the president said. "They want to win. I know how to win. Some of them don't know how to win. I know how to win. I think I've proven that, haven't I?"

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.