The trickling of power from the mightiest person on Earth seems unlikely to abate. Donald Trump will fight to stay in the White House, on spurious grounds, but much of the world is moving on from the US election. Foreign leaders are congratulating the man they refer to as “president-elect” Joe Biden. Most Americans themselves are resuming their lives: neither the street parties nor the pro-Trump rallies are typical.
Republicans can hasten the process, and salvage some honour, by urging Mr Trump to accept defeat. And not just in private. So far, most of the pressure to that end has been coded and covert.
If high principle is not enough to motivate Republicans, the party should heed at least its self-interest. It would be foolish to go into the run-off races that might settle the Senate with a reputation for bucking the voters. By ceding the high ground to Mr Biden, Republicans also risk prolonging what is likely to be the briefest honeymoon of any recent president. The sooner he is universally seen as the new power in the land, the sooner he can be held to account. Challenging the result also obscures the fact that it was better for Republicans than many had expected.