Trump again calls for federal intervention in elections amid criticism [View all]

Source: USA Today

Updated Feb. 3, 2026, 7:16 p.m. ET


President Donald Trump called for the federal government to "get involved" in overseeing elections as his talk of nationalizing the voting process generates bipartisan pushback and alarms critics worried about the fairness of future contests.

Asked during a Feb. 3 White House event attended by GOP lawmakers what he meant by comments he made on a podcast with Dan Bongino about nationalizing voting, Trump said: "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 president repeated his unfounded claims that the 2020 election was "rigged" and pointed to places where he alleged "horrible corruption on elections," saying "the federal government should not allow that. The federal government should get involved. These are agents of the federal government to count the votes."

States have the authority under the Constitution over "the times, places, and manner" of federal elections. State and local authorities administer voting, though the Constitution gives Congress the power to "make or alter" election rules.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/03/donald-trump-elections-nationalize-voting-thune-schumer/88497102007/