Trump Declines to Rule Out National Emergency for Elections

Politics9 sourcesAug 12, 2026

ConsensusFactual rigor 51/100

The Story

President Donald Trump has not ruled out declaring a national security emergency to assert control over the 2026 midterm elections.

During an interview on Real America's Voice, host Wayne Allyn Root suggested Trump could declare such an emergency if the Senate fails to pass the SAVE America Act. Root stated that a declaration would allow for photo identification, proof of citizenship for voter registration, and limits on mail-in ballots, asserting it could not be challenged except by a two-thirds vote in Congress.

Trump responded by saying, stranger things have happened, OK? I'll leave it at that. Election law expert Rick Hasen of UCLA stated that a presidential emergency declaration would not override state voting laws, as the U.S. Constitution does not grant the president power over elections, which are largely governed by state legislatures. Hasen suggested that such a declaration could serve as a tool to discredit potential Democratic victories and intimidate voters.

He also speculated that an executive order directing the U.S. Postal Service not to deliver mail-in ballots to states that have not shared voter data with the White House was part of an intimidation strategy. The SAVE America Act, which aims to establish voter ID, require proof of citizenship, and end universal mail-in ballots, has faced challenges in the Senate, requiring sixty votes to advance past the filibuster.

What they agree on

President Donald Trump has stated that "stranger things have happened" when asked about declaring a national security emergency for elections.
The idea of declaring a national security emergency for elections was suggested to Trump by host Wayne Allyn Root during an interview.
Wayne Allyn Root suggested that such an emergency declaration could lead to photo ID, proof of citizenship, and limits on mail-in ballots.
The Senate has not passed the SAVE America Act, which Wayne Allyn Root linked to the possibility of a national emergency declaration.

Where they split

Some sources emphasize the legal analysis of election law expert Rick Hasen, who stated a presidential emergency declaration would not override state voting laws.
Other sources focus on the potential intimidation tactics Trump might employ through such a declaration, as suggested by Hasen.
Coverage varies in the prominence given to the specific provisions of the SAVE America Act and its legislative status.
Some outlets highlight the host Wayne Allyn Root's assertion that a national emergency declaration cannot be challenged except by a two-thirds vote in Congress.