Obama slams Trump's attacks on the Postal Service, says the current administration is 'more concerned with suppressing the vote than suppressing a virus'
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Former President Barack Obama on Friday accused President Donald Trump of attempting to suppress the vote with his recent attacks on the US Postal Service.
Trump this week said he did not want the cash-strapped USPS to get more funding because he doesn't want it to go toward mail-in voting, which he's falsely said leads to widespread voter fraud.
"Everyone depends on the USPS ... They can't be collateral damage for an administration more concerned with suppressing the vote than suppressing a virus," Obama said.
Former President Barack Obama on Friday excoriated President Donald Trump over his recent attacks on the US Postal Service in relation to mail-in voting.
"Everyone depends on the USPS. Seniors for their Social Security, veterans for their prescriptions, small businesses trying to keep their doors open. They can't be collateral damage for an administration more concerned with suppressing the vote than suppressing a virus," Obama said via Twitter.
"If you're in a state where you have the option to vote early, do that now," Obama added. "The more votes in early, the less likely you're going to see a last minute crunch, both at polling places and in states where mail-in ballots are permitted. Then tell everyone you know."
Similarly, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trump's 2016 opponent, in a tweet on Friday said Trump is attempting to "dismantle" the Postal Service.
"Trump and Republicans aren't just trying to dismantle the USPS—a crucial American institution. They're trying to dismantle American democracy, and using a deadly pandemic they made even deadlier to do it. We have to fight back and we have to win," Clinton wrote.
Democrats in Congress have pushed for expanded access to mail-in voting as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread at alarming rates across the US. Meanwhile, the president has repeatedly made unfounded assertions on mail-in voting in a blatant effort to undermine the legitimacy of the 2020 election as he trails former Vice President Joe Biden in the polls.
Trump this week said that he did not want the Postal Service to get desperately-needed funding because he doesn't want it to be used for mail-in voting, which he's baselessly stated will lead to widespread voter fraud.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Trump said he would not sign off on any relief bill that includes emergency federal funds for the USPS and more money to process election-related mail.
"They want $25 billion — billion — for the post office. Now they need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots," Trump said to Fox Business on Thursday. "Now, in the meantime, they aren't getting there. By the way, those are just two items. But if they don't get those two items, that means you can't have universal mail-in voting ... because they're not equipped."
At a White House press briefing later on Thursday, Trump appeared to backtrack and said he would not veto a coronavirus relief bill specifically for including funding for USPS.
Democrats in Congress have expressed strong concerns about recent operational changes made by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that lawmakers have said "cause significant delays in mail delivery."
Under DeJoy, a North Carolina shipping-and-logistics executive and a prolific Republican donor with no experience working at the Postal Service, the USPS has implemented cost-cutting measures including limiting overtime for postal carriers, cracking down on late trips to deliver mail, and freezing hiring. Critics have said the measures are slowing mail delivery in some areas and could prevent voters' ballots for the November election from being delivered on time.
Read more:
How to vote by mail in your state in the November presidential election
Voting 2020: See the deadlines to apply for and submit your mail-in ballot in every US state
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