Trump’s Call to ‘Nationalize’ Elections Sparks Controversy and Criticism

Former President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm by urging Republicans to “nationalize” elections, a move critics decry as an unprecedented attempt to centralize control over the electoral process. The comments, made during a podcast interview, follow a series of actions by his administration aimed at increasing federal influence over elections, fueling concerns about the integrity of future voting.

During an interview on Dan Bongino‘s podcast, Trump declared, “The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over.’ We should take over the voting, the voting in at least many — 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.” He repeatedly asserted that widespread voter fraud, particularly by undocumented immigrants, is jeopardizing Republican electoral success.

“If Republicans don’t get them out, you will never win another election as a Republican,” Trump stated, linking his call for electoral control to his broader immigration agenda. He also referenced the recent FBI search of an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, suggesting that “interesting things” would emerge from the examination of 2020 election records.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to clarify Trump’s remarks, stating that the former president was referring to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. This proposed legislation would mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration. Leavitt asserted that the SAVE Act offers “commonsense measures for voting in our country, such as voter ID.”

However, critics argue that the SAVE Act could disenfranchise legitimate voters by creating unnecessary hurdles for registration. The Constitution primarily assigns election administration to state and local officials, making Trump’s call for federal takeover a significant departure from the decentralized nature of U.S. elections.

Trump’s comments come amid a pattern of his administration seeking greater control over election processes. Previous efforts include an executive order aimed at requiring documentary proof of citizenship and mandating that mail-in ballots be received by Election Day, many of which have faced legal challenges. His administration has also pursued voter rolls from various states.

Republican leadership, such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, has expressed skepticism about federalizing elections. Thune stated, “I’m not in favor of federalizing elections,” emphasizing his belief in decentralized power and the constitutional role of states. Despite this, Thune indicated support for the SAVE Act, though its passage in the Senate faces significant hurdles due to the filibuster rule.

The FBI’s raid in Fulton County, Georgia, has also drawn attention, with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirming she was present at Trump’s request. While Gabbard stated she facilitated a brief call between Trump and the agents to thank them, the direct communication between a president and on-the-ground law enforcement in such a context is unusual and has raised eyebrows.