Many Democrats and media figures agreed during the 2016 campaign that Donald Trump could not be elected president of the United States.
Chief among those confident that a Trump victory was not possible was President Obama, one of Hillary Clinton's most vociferous supporters on the campaign trail. Asked by NBC's Matt Lauer in January if he could imagine Trump one day giving the State of the Union address, Obama chuckled.
"Well, I can imagine it in a Saturday Night skit," he said.
Bookending Obama's sureness was an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live in October, when he read "Mean Tweets" written about him and his presidency. One was written by @RealDonaldTrump himself, and Obama had a ready taunt.
President Obama will go down as perhaps the worst president in the history of the United States!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2016
"Well, @RealDonaldTrump, at least I will go down as a president," Obama said. He then dropped his phone as a way of "dropping the mic" while the crowd roared.
Hillary Clinton's top surrogates also swore Trump would never get to the White House.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) consistently said that Trump would "never" be elected during campaign rally appearances and interviews.
"Donald Trump is not going to become president of the United States," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) said.
"Donald Trump will never be elected president of the United States," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) echoed.
"Donald Trump is not going to be president of the United States," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said. "Although respectful of the fact that people have not voted, he is not going to be president of the United States."
Democratic boosters in the press made bald claims as well that Trump would lose.
Liberal CNN host Fareed Zakaria said last month, "Let's be clear. Donald Trump will lose the election." Left-wing The Nation writer Joan Walsh said the race was over in October, as did CNN commentator Bob Beckel.
Liberal The View co-host Joy Behar said no one would be happier than her and Obama when Trump lost the election, and MSNBC commentator Steve Schmidt said a "landslide" Clinton victory was "inevitable."
However, they were incorrect.