The grievance regarding 2020 election starts and ends with Democrat-favouring changes to indirect voting that were allowed due to the covid panic and arguably moved the needle enough to let Biden win. That’s what stealing the election refers to. It was not fair to Trump and him challenging the result is justified.
While I disagree with your portrayal of the election changes, you are right that Trump challenging the result was justified. But when his challenges failed and it was clear that Biden won fair and square, there was no justification for attempting to stay in power and ending democracy.
Don't get me wrong, I fully agree that they showed no evidence and had no legal standing. I was solely focusing on the intended procedure - if you have issues with an election, the proper way to address them is through the courts, as he did. Anything beyond that (like the Georgia call or his many attempts to "convince" Pence of installing him as president) has no such justification (and no, the untested legal theory of the VP being allowed to choose fake electors isn't one).
I suspect it would have been beneficial for Trump for back off earlier. However, I just cannot see asking Pence to delay certification as trying to end democracy, same as I cannot see the Jan 6th protests as an attempt to overturn the election by force.
> However, I just cannot see asking Pence to delay certification as trying to end democracy
Trump didn't ask Pence to delay certification, he asked him to count the fake electors prepared by Republicans instead.
What is the end of democracy, if not the loser of an election staying in power by abusing loopholes? Had Trump stayed in power, democracy would have ended. Trump and the Republicans attempted many avenues to keep him in power.
