Pro-Trump groups say they are ready to actively challenge any results they consider suspect. Some even raise the possibility of armed action.
Arizona, a pivotal state (swing state) crucial to the US presidential election, has become the epicenter of a lingering controversy surrounding the 2020 results. Four years after Joe Biden’s narrow victory, many Donald Trump supporters remain convinced that the election was theirs. stolen, despite the lack of evidence. This conviction fuels a tense climate in the run-up to the vote this Tuesday, November 5.
Gun sales on the rise
In Arizona’s conservative communities, there is an increase in gun and ammunition sales. Some individuals, like Wes, a former soldier, say they are ready to intervene if necessary. “If my brothers in arms call me to fulfill our duty, then I go for it,” he told France Info. Local arms dealers confirm this trend.
“There are groups of people who are ready to respond to anything,” notes Brian, one of them. The rhetoric of Trump supporters is based on the idea that any Democratic victory would necessarily be the result of fraud. Rocky, who says he participated in an audit of the 2020 results, maintains: “They cheated and they are doing it again.”
Denial
A belief that persists despite numerous investigations and court decisions rejecting allegations of massive fraud in 2020. Trump supporters reject these conclusions, preferring to adhere to unproven theories.
“This time, I think we played the same card as them, by voting in advance,” explains Gavin, a manufacturer of pro-Trump derivative products. “To make sure our ballots go to the right candidate.”
“Too Big to rig”
Trump’s supporters in Arizona are adopting an aggressive communications strategy. The slogan “Too Big to rig” is widely used, suggesting that a big victory for Trump is inevitable but above all that any other result would be suspect.
Charlie Kirk, an influential figure in the state’s pro-Trump movement, is using voter turnout statistics to imply a Republican victory, creating potentially dangerous expectations among activists.
This rhetoric, combined with distrust of the electoral process, creates fertile ground for future protests. Although most Trump supporters say they are peaceful, the underlying tension and active preparation of some groups raises concerns about the stability of the democratic process in Arizona and, by extension, the United States.
