In 2016, Trump’s allies routinely attacked recount efforts that they said were “based on no evidence” and were designed to “delegitimize” his 2016 victory. They also commended President Barack Obama and administration officials for accepting the results of the election.

The comments were made in response to protests against Trump’s victory, recount efforts sponsored by the Green Party and candidate Jill Stein, and efforts to persuade Electoral College voters to vote against Trump.

“You have people trying to delegitimize the President-elect of the United States right now,” Kayleigh McEnany, then a CNN contributor, said in November 2016. “You have people out there that are calling for recounts that are unsubstantiated based on no evidence.”

In one instance, Rudy Giuliani, who is today leading the charge to challenge the election results, called protesters against Trump’s election “a bunch of spoiled crybabies,” and added it was “really not the right thing in a democracy.”