More than a dozen times in the past seven days, President Donald Trump has alleged, contrary to evidence, that the recount of Florida¡¯s elections for governor and the U.S. Senate has been marred by fraud.

¡°Many ballots are missing or forged,¡± he tweeted on Monday. ¡°Ballots massively infected.¡±

The unsubstantiated allegations could help Trump bolster a narrative that appeals to his core supporters ahead of his expected 2020 bid for a second term ¡ª that of an aggrieved president at risk of being cheated by what he often decries at rallies as an unfair system.