The NYT has learned that Trump supporters on Telegram are calling to question the results of the US election.

The newspaper found that these types of calls were spread through 50 messaging channels, with more than 500,000 participants. Most of the channels were created after the 2020 elections, highlighting the growth of a movement that denies the legitimacy of the elections, the publication notes.

The New York Times writes that some publications urge Trumpists to participate in election commission meetings, observe polling stations and report suspected irregularities, while others claim that any election result other than a Trump victory would be “an injustice.” worthy of protest.”

The Times also analyzed messages from “election integrity” groups in dozens of states, including key states such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Michigan. More than 4,000 messages contained calls for active action: attending local meetings, participating in rallies, and financial donations.

For example, in New Hampshire, one channel encouraged people to personally contact local officials to count absentee ballots. In Georgia, users were encouraged to attend elections board meetings to limit the use of absentee ballots. In New Mexico, people were encouraged to monitor polling places with cameras, contact police and “fight like hell,” the newspaper reported.

Former NYPD intelligence analyst Katherine Kinnelly said the opinions presented on Telegram should not be considered the opinions of a “little-known minority,” but rather should be taken as a warning of what could happen on the day of elections and beyond. He said Telegram is often used to organize offline activities, especially among extremist groups, where it serves as a tool to attract new followers and amplify their views.

Telegram was already used to coordinate actions in 2020, when Americans who did not agree with the election results organized an assault on the Capitol, notes the NYT. According to the newspaper, the influence of the messenger in these elections may be even more serious.

In the United States, the presidential elections began on November 5, 2024. The main candidates are former US President Donald Trump (representing the Republican Party) and current Vice President Kamala Harris (Democratic Party). How the voting will take place, what possibilities the candidates have, how their programs differ and what Elon Musk has to do with it – in the RB.RU material.

The inauguration of the new president will take place on January 20, 2025 on the Capitol grounds.