President Trump isn't letting one of his controversial claims about the election go away: In a meeting with congressional leaders Monday, he told them that he would have won the popular vote if not for voter fraud. "He said 3 to 5 million 'illegals' voted so that's why he lost popular vote," says a Democratic aide present, per the Hill. Multiple outlets, including the Washington Post, have the same story with their own sources. And the New York Times doesn't mince words, stating in a front-page headline that "Trump Repeats Lie About Popular Vote ..."
Trump won the Electoral College 304-227, but in the official tally, Hillary Clinton won the popular ballot by about 3 million votes. Trump first alleged voter fraud in a November tweet, but he has offered no evidence to support the claim and independent fact-checkers have dismissed the allegation. Around the time he first made it, the claim was present on conspiracy websites, notes CNN. (More President Trump stories.)