Former President Donald Trump has intensified his demands for Republicans to "nationalise" American elections, alleging that certain Democrat-leaning cities are plagued by what he describes as "horrible" corruption in their voting processes.
Constitutional Clash Over State Voting Rights
During an Oval Office press briefing on Tuesday, Trump explicitly called for federal intervention in state-run elections, stating: "I want to see elections be honest, and if a state can't run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it." The individuals he referred to were congressional Republicans standing behind him.
Trump specifically named Detroit, Philadelphia, and Atlanta as cities he believes are too corrupt to manage their own elections. All three cities, located in states won by Democrats in 2020, subsequently flipped to Republican control during the 2024 election cycle.
Legal Experts Challenge Trump's Proposal
"Look at some of the places—that horrible corruption on elections—and the federal government should not allow that. The federal government should get involved," Trump asserted. "These are agents of the federal government to count the vote. If they can't count the vote legally and honestly, then somebody else should take over."
This latest declaration follows similar comments Trump made during an interview on Monday with former deputy FBI director Dan Bongino, where he urged Republicans to "take over" voting in fifteen unspecified states.
Under the United States Constitution, local precincts collect and tally ballots for both state and national elections. While the federal government maintains certain oversight roles, it does not conduct national elections—a deliberate safeguard against potential governmental manipulation of electoral outcomes.
Democratic Leaders Condemn 'Outlandishly Illegal' Suggestion
Democratic lawmakers have been swift to condemn Trump's proposals, accusing him of attempting to undermine American democracy ahead of what many anticipate will be challenging midterm elections for Republicans in 2026.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded forcefully, stating: "Does Donald Trump need a copy of the Constitution? What he's saying is outlandishly illegal." Schumer further criticised Republican senators for their reluctance to publicly oppose the former president's attempts to erode states' constitutional rights.
Senator Bernie Sanders expressed profound scepticism about Trump's electoral integrity claims, telling CNN: "The idea that anyone would trust for one minute this guy running an honest election would be beyond comprehension. Not to mention that obviously he has not read the Constitution of the United States, which has states running elections, not the federal government."
Republican Responses: From Rejection to Rationalisation
House Speaker Mike Johnson offered a contrasting interpretation of Trump's remarks when addressing reporters on Tuesday, suggesting the former president was merely "expressing his frustration" with alleged election integrity issues in certain Democrat-leaning areas.
When pressed repeatedly about whether he supported Trump's proposal to nationalise elections, Johnson unequivocally responded "no." Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged that while he supports voter identification requirements, he is "not in favor of federalizing elections," recognising it as a fundamental "constitutional issue."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, questioned about Trump's comments, assured reporters that the former president "believes in the United States Constitution."
Persistent Allegations Despite Legal Rejections
Trump has remained steadfast in his assertion that widespread voter fraud caused his 2020 election loss, despite numerous legal challenges failing to substantiate these claims in any American court. His continued focus on electoral integrity comes amid recent political developments that have unsettled Republican strategists.
Over the weekend, Democratic candidate Taylor Rehmet achieved a surprising victory over Republican Leigh Wambsganss in a Texas state Senate district—a region that had supported Trump by more than seventeen percentage points in 2024. This unexpected outcome, decided by a margin exceeding fourteen points, has sent ripples through both major political parties.
The following Monday, Trump told Bongino he wanted Republicans to "take over" elections, leading many political observers to interpret his renewed focus on voting procedures as indicative of his strategic mindset approaching the 2026 midterm elections.
