President Trump will order an investigation into voter fraud, following his repeated assertion that 3 to 5 million people voted illegally for Hillary Clinton in the election, despite the complete absence of evidence of widespread voter fraud. The move is vexing, as multiple recent studies have disproven Trump's theory that undocumented immigrants swung the popular vote to Clinton—it's particularly grating considering his campaign's assertion that "all available evidence suggests that the 2016 general election was not tainted by fraud or mistake," when Green Party candidate Jill Stein filed for recounts in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Still, Trump's push for a voter fraud investigation serves him well, and not just because it feeds his seemingly unslakable thirst for false conspiracy theories.

Trump announced the intended voter fraud investigation on Twitter this morning:

I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017

even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017

Researchers have repeatedly stated that voter fraud is incredibly rare—one report from 2007 went so far as to say it's more likely that "an American will be struck by lightning than that he will impersonate another voter at the polls." The author of a Pew Study White House spokesperson Sean Spicer cited as evidence of voter fraud in a press briefing yesterday has also debunked those claims:

We found millions of out of date registration records due to people moving or dying, but found no evidence that voter fraud resulted.
— David Becker (@beckerdavidj) November 28, 2016

Even members of Trump's own party are shaking their heads at his cries of fraud—House Speaker Paul Ryan told The Hill he saw "no evidence" of fraud during the 2016 election. Trump fan Mike Huckabee told Fox News he had "no evidence whatsoever" of voter fraud and questioned why Trump was harping on the talking point altogether. "He's the president and whether 20 million people voted, it doesn't matter anymore," Huckabee said. "He's the president, and I'm not sure why he brought it up."

There are a few reasons why Trump might be pushing this very unnecessary investigation. One, of course, is that he might genuinely believe voting fraud cost him the popular vote—not because he's seen any evidence of it, but because his fragile ego might not be able to handle the fact that he wasn't able to convince millions of Americans of his greatness. More likely, an investigation into voter fraud may make it easier for states to enact stricter voter ID laws, which will ultimately strengthen the GOP's power in Congress by disenfranchising citizens who tend to vote for Democrats.

Then, of course, causing a big stink about a non-issue is a great way to distract people from the actual terrible things set in motion during Trump's first week. Yesterday, Trump signed executive orders revisiting the much-maligned Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines; he also announced yesterday that he will order construction of a costly border wall between the United States and Mexico, and, most chillingly, he's expected to sign executive orders restricting immigration from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. All seven countries are predominantly Muslim. It looks like Trump's campaign promises weren't just smoke-blowing, after all.

Trump meant everything he said. The Muslim ban, the border wall.

Also promised: 10 million-plus deportations, jailing Hillary Clinton
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) January 25, 2017

White House sources also tell the Washington Post that an executive order on immigration will be "targeting cities where local leaders refuse to hand over illegal immigrants for deportation." (This would likely come in the form of federal funding cuts to "Sanctuary Cities" like NYC.) CAIR-New York has announced an emergency rally in Washington Square Park tonight in support of immigrant rights, "to show President Trump that all New Yorkers stand with our Muslim and Latino neighbors."

Trump Promises Investigation Into Fake Voter Fraud, But That's Not Even The Craziest Thing Happening