August 11, 2026 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law
· Public statement
Developing
Trump Won't Rule Out Declaring a National Emergency to Control the Midterms
In an August 11 interview with Real America's Voice host Wayne Allyn Root, Trump declined to rule out declaring a national security emergency to impose photo ID, proof-of-citizenship and mail-ballot limits ahead of the 2026 midterms, after Root suggested such a declaration could only be overturned by a two-thirds vote of Congress. "Stranger things have happened, OK? I'll leave it at that," Trump said.
Legal experts say the Constitution gives states, not the president, authority over elections; it is unclear whether such a declaration would have legal effect, and the White House did not clarify Trump's intent.
The remark follows other efforts touching 2026 election administration, including a blocked executive order restricting mail voting through the Postal Service, now on appeal to the Supreme Court.
Legal experts say the Constitution gives states, not the president, authority over elections; it is unclear whether such a declaration would have legal effect, and the White House did not clarify Trump's intent.
The remark follows other efforts touching 2026 election administration, including a blocked executive order restricting mail voting through the Postal Service, now on appeal to the Supreme Court.