Trump refused to leave the White House after the election defeat: book

Former President Donald Trump told staff “I just won’t leave the White House” after losing the 2020 election – and even asked his Diet Coke servant his opinion on staying, like a new book claims.

The tidbits from New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman’s upcoming tome “Confidence Man” were reported Monday by CNN, where Haberman contributes to on-air political coverage.

According to the book, Trump initially appeared to accept Joe Biden’s victory, telling one aide, “We did our best,” and telling other aides, “I thought we nailed it.”

Eventually, however, the 45th President changed his tone.

“We will never leave,” Trump told an aide, according to Haberman. “How can you leave when you’ve won an election?”

“I’m just not going,” Trump reportedly told another employee.

“Why would I go when they stole it from me?” The now-former president also asked Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel.

When a reporter asked Trump on November 27, 2020, if he would vacate the White House if Biden’s victory was confirmed by the Electoral College, the President replied, “Sure I will, and you know it.” But I think a lot will happen before January 20th. Many things.”

Close associates and RNC officials weren’t the only people Trump turned to for guidance as he weighed whether to leave the White House peacefully, Haberman writes.

The 45th President also reportedly consulted the valet, who brought him a Diet Coke every time he pushed a red button in the Oval Office.

According to the book, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was reluctant to confront him about his loss, likening it to a deathbed scene as the president grew increasingly angry over the election result.

“The priest will come later,” Kushner reportedly said.

The revelations come amid investigations by the Justice Department and a select committee of the House of Representatives into the Jan. 6 Capitol riots and Trump’s possible role in instigating it, as well as his efforts to overturn the election result.

The Capitol riots unfolded as a mob of angry Trump supporters stormed Congress while lawmakers counted Electoral College votes to formalize Biden’s victory.

On Monday, some liberals accused Haberman of sitting on the Trump quotes to juice up her book, which is due out Oct. 4.

“Oh good, another fact vital to the security and continued existence of the nation that @maggieNYT has withheld from the public for many months, if not a year and a half, for them to put in their damn book. Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann tweeted.

“You know what? @January6thCmte will have to subpoena @maggieNYT for this quote if she found out about it and what other knowledge of Trump’s conspiracy she is hiding from the public,” he added.

“Maggie Haberman is another in a long line of people who were willing to let democracy die at the altar of a bookstore,” said activist John Pavlovitz tweeted.

Author Tony Posnanski also weighed in, tweet: “Donald Trump – I WILL DESTROY AMERICA! Maggie Haberman – Ohhhh this is going to be great for my book!”