Former Fox News host Geraldo Rivera stated that former President Donald Trump has successfully compelled the entire Republican Party to adopt his unsubstantiated claims of a rigged 2020 election, calling it the "biggest story" in modern politics. Rivera made these remarks during a panel discussion on CNN's "NewsNight With Abby Phillip," focusing on the integrity of future elections under Trump's influence.
Rivera's comments came as candidates endorsed by Trump, who have promoted his false election narratives, secured victories over more moderate Republican contenders in recent primary elections in Arizona. This trend has raised concerns about the future of election integrity within the party.
Commentator Tara Setmayer noted that the Department of Justice's decision to send monitors to Arizona is a response to these concerns. She suggested that Trump is actively working to influence upcoming midterm elections and position himself for 2028 by backing candidates who challenge the legitimacy of free and fair elections and promote conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
Rivera emphasized that the proliferation of election conspiracy theories has damaged the Republican Party's credibility. He posited that if candidates cannot directly answer the question of who won the election, then their other statements lack substance. "If they can’t answer that question, then everything else they’re saying is BS," Rivera said.