Trump Ally Kudlow Spreads False Voter ID Claim About Connecticut

Former Trump advisor Larry Kudlow falsely claims Connecticut voters don't need photo ID, as Trump attacks state's elections as 'extremely corrupt'

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Former Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow falsely claimed on TV that Connecticut voters can vote without a photo ID, just by showing a credit or debit card. This prompted former President Trump to attack Connecticut's elections as 'extremely corrupt,' despite the state's rigorous voter verification processes. The article debunks Kudlow's claim and Trump's smears, noting Connecticut's multi-stage voter registration and verification system that includes both Republican and Democratic oversight.

Why it matters

Trump and his allies have repeatedly made false claims about voter fraud and election integrity as a smokescreen to push for voting restrictions that would make it harder for Democrats to win. This latest episode highlights how they are willing to spread misinformation to undermine trust in the electoral process, even in states with robust safeguards like Connecticut.

The details

Kudlow claimed on TV that in Connecticut 'you could vote if you just show them a credit card or a debit card, which anybody can get their hands on.' This is false - Connecticut requires voters to provide proof of residency documents like utility bills or paychecks, in addition to going through a multi-step verification process overseen by both Republican and Democratic officials. Trump then amplified Kudlow's lie, falsely claiming Connecticut is an 'extremely corrupt voting place' where Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, can 'keep getting elected' despite 'admitting he cheated on the war.' In reality, Blumenthal never served in Vietnam despite some past statements that suggested he did, but this was widely understood by Connecticut voters when he was elected.

  • On February 14, 2026, Larry Kudlow made the false claim about voting in Connecticut on TV.
  • The following day, on February 15, 2026, the House passed the SAVE America Act, which would nationalize elections.

The players

Larry Kudlow

A Fox personality and former economic advisor to former President Donald Trump.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who amplified Kudlow's false claims about Connecticut's elections.

Richard Blumenthal

A Democratic U.S. Senator from Connecticut who Trump has repeatedly attacked over past statements about his military service during the Vietnam War.

Joe Ganim

The Democratic mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who was the subject of an attempted mail-in ballot box stuffing incident in 2023 that was investigated and prosecuted.

Connecticut's top elections official

The state official who explained Connecticut's rigorous multi-stage voter verification process that includes both Republican and Democratic oversight.

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What they’re saying

“I vote in the state of Connecticut. You don't need a photo ID. You could vote if you just show them a credit card or a debit card, which anybody can get their hands on. I think it's a scam.”

— Larry Kudlow, Fox personality and former Trump advisor (Fox News)

“Connecticut is an extremely corrupt voting place. That's why a guy like [Richard] Blumenthal can keep getting elected. He admitted he cheated on the war. I went to Vietnam for a couple of days and I spent two more days than he did there. He was never there.”

— Donald Trump (Unspecified)

“Every community has both a Republican and a Democrat responsible for running elections. We use paper ballots. Our voting equipment is not connected to the internet. We conduct rigorous pre-election testing and post-election audits. And when an issue is identified, it is investigated and addressed through law and not rhetoric.”

— Connecticut's top elections official (New Haven Register)

What’s next

The judge in the case against the Bridgeport mail-in ballot box stuffing incident will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the perpetrators, all Democrats, to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the lengths Trump and his allies will go to spread misinformation and undermine trust in elections, even in states with robust safeguards like Connecticut. It underscores the need for vigilance in defending the integrity of the electoral process against those seeking to subvert it for political gain.