"The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy," Trump wrote after President Barack Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election. Obama ended up winning the Electoral College and the popular vote.

Earlier that evening, Trump tweeted, "We can't let this happen. We should march on Washington and stop this travesty. Our nation is totally divided!"

He also called the election a "total sham."

"We are not a democracy!" Trump wrote.

>> Read Trump's posts here

A candidate winning the presidency without winning the popular vote is rare but not unheard of in U.S. elections.

Most recently, Democrat Al Gore lost the 2000 presidential race to Republican George W. Bush, despite receiving more than 500,000 more votes than his opponent.

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Tracy Woodard from InTown Cares (left) and Lauren Hopper from Mercy Care organization work with residents at the Copperton Street encampment in August 2024. 
(Miguel Martinez / AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez