Trump's State of the Union Address Focuses on Midterm Election Influence
Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington DC on Tuesday, using the platform to rail against imagined election fraud and outline potential strategies to tilt the upcoming midterm elections in his favor. With Republicans facing grim poll figures, Trump promised aggressive action, citing long-debunked claims of cheating by Democrats.
"They want to cheat," Trump asserted during the speech. "They have cheated. And their policy is so bad that their only way to get elected is to cheat. And we're going to stop it." This rhetoric comes as the incumbent party typically faces losses in midterm elections; since World War II, the president's party has lost an average of 26 seats in the House and four in the Senate, which could flip both chambers in 2026.
Five Key Strategies Trump Might Employ
Representative Joe Morelle of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House administration committee, commented, "I think he understands – and I'm pretty confident that he knows this – that they'll lose the midterms and lose them significantly. So, in true Donald Trump fashion, the question then is, 'well, how do I rig the results?'" Trump appears poised to take extraordinary measures to protect his administration from a possible Democratic majority. Here are some ways he might attempt to influence or obstruct the midterm elections:
- States Adopt Voting Restrictions: Trump called for the passage of the Save America Act, which would require states to turn over voter data to the Department of Homeland Security, restrict mail-in ballots, impose voter ID at polls, and require proof of citizenship at registration. While the bill faces a Democratic filibuster in the Senate, states could adopt its provisions, though constitutional challenges are likely.
- Executive Order on Voter ID and Citizenship Proof: In the absence of congressional action, Trump has suggested issuing an executive order to enforce these measures, despite constitutional limits on presidential authority over elections. A previous attempt was blocked by a lawsuit from the League of Women Voters.
- Republicans Accuse Elections Officials of Crimes: Following an FBI raid in Fulton county, Georgia, for 2020 election documents, Trump hinted at prosecutions. The county has contested the FBI's claims, but the situation raises concerns about targeting election officials.
- Federal Seizure of Voting Machines or Ballots: An investigation led by Tulsi Gabbard into voting machines and foreign interference could create a pretext for Trump to order seizures under national security grounds, though legal experts argue this would face significant constitutional hurdles.
- Federal Agents Occupy Cities and Surround Polls: Trump confidant Steve Bannon has called for ICE agents to surround polling locations, invoking the Insurrection Act. Federal statutes prohibit such actions, but the rhetoric highlights potential provocative moves.
Democrats are left to speculate on further authoritarian tactics, given the administration's disregard for political precedent and legal norms. As the midterms approach, these strategies underscore the ongoing battle over election integrity and democratic norms in the United States.
