U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Republicans to nationalise voting across the country. Moreover, he repeated false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. He added that the federal government should get involved in elections. Trump said Republicans should take control of voting in multiple areas. For example, he suggested they “take over” elections in at least 15 locations. However, he did not specify which areas. He claimed that nationalising voting could help the party win future elections.
Trump also linked his call to nationalise voting with his plans to deport undocumented immigrants. He argued that Republicans cannot win if they fail to remove these individuals. Additionally, he claimed, without evidence, that people voted illegally in 2020. The comments came shortly after the FBI raided an election office in Georgia. During this raid, authorities checked records from the 2020 election. Meanwhile, Trump mentioned the raid during a podcast with his deputy FBI director. He said that interesting details might come out from the investigation.
Trump has faced criminal cases related to election interference in Georgia. One federal case ended last year after he returned to the White House. In contrast, a state-level racketeering case in Georgia did not continue. Nevertheless, Trump denied any wrongdoing in both cases. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump believes in the Constitution. However, she added that he thinks fraud and irregularities affected American elections. Moreover, Leavitt noted that Trump’s remarks support a law requiring voters to show proof of citizenship.
Supporters of this law say it will reduce voter fraud and prevent illegal voting by non-citizens. On the other hand, critics argue it may make it harder for citizens to register to vote. Already, non-citizens cannot vote in federal elections or most state races. Fulton County officials expressed anger about the FBI raid. For instance, a commissioner called it “an assault on your vote.” Additionally, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed she attended the raid. She explained that Trump asked her to be present.
Gabbard further explained that her role relates to election security and counterintelligence. Subsequently, she confirmed a call occurred between Trump and the FBI agents on-site. She added that Trump only thanked the agents and did not give instructions. The nationalise voting proposal remains controversial. Therefore, experts warn it could challenge the traditional state-based election system. Finally, Trump and his supporters argue it is necessary to protect election integrity.
