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Trump Calls for “Nationalizing” Elections, Revives Fraud Claims Amid Georgia Investigation
A proposal to federalize U.S. elections, floated by former President Trump on Monday, clashes with teh constitutional framework granting states primary authority over election governance and underscores ongoing efforts to reshape voting rules. Speaking on a podcast hosted by former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Trump repeated unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud and suggested Republicans should “take over the voting in at least 15 places,” particularly in states he labeled “crooked.”
Renewed Allegations of Fraud
TrumpS remarks centered on his long-held belief that U.S. elections are vulnerable to meaningful fraud. he specifically alleged that undocumented immigrants are illegally voting for democrats, stating, “If we don’t get them out, Republicans will never win another election.” These assertions, repeatedly made without evidence, echo his claims following the 2020 presidential election, which he continues to assert were stolen.
The former president lamented what he perceives as a lack of resolve from Republicans on this issue. “It is amazing that the Republicans are not tougher on it,” he said.
Georgia Investigation Intensifies
trump’s call for federal control of elections comes as scrutiny intensifies in Georgia, a state central to his 2020 claims of a “rigged” election. He hinted at forthcoming developments, suggesting “some engaging things” may emerge, likely referencing the recent FBI search warrant served at the election headquarters of Fulton County, Georgia.
Reports indicate an unusual interaction during the search. According to the New York Times, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present at the election center when she contacted Trump via cellphone, and he reportedly thanked the agents for thier work. This interaction has raised eyebrows given the politically sensitive nature of the inquiry.
Prior to the Georgia search, Trump publicly suggested that criminal charges were imminent related to the 2020 election during a speech at the World Economic Summit in davos, Switzerland. His previous attempts to influence the outcome in Georgia are well-documented, including a January 2021 phone call to Republican secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which he asked raffensperger to “find” 11,780 votes to overturn the state’s results. Raffensperger maintained that multiple reviews confirmed Joe Biden’s victory in the state.
Executive Action and Congressional Pushback
As returning to office, Trump has actively pursued changes to election rules. In March, he signed an executive order mandating proof of U.S. citizenship on election forms. However, a federal judge blocked the order in October, citing a violation of the separation of powers. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia wrote, “Because our Constitution assigns responsibility for election regulation to the States and to Congress, this Court holds that the President lacks the authority to direct such changes.”
Despite the court ruling,several Republican lawmakers in Congress are backing legislation to require proof of citizenship for voter registration. The issue is also emerging as a potential bargaining chip in negotiations over a spending package aimed at resolving a partial government shutdown that began on Saturday.
Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) articulated a common conservative argument on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, stating, “ONLY AMERICAN CITIZENS SHOULD BE VOTING IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS. This is common sense not rocket science.”
