Trump Vows Voter ID for Midterms, Despite Congress

President claims he has legal justification to mandate changes nationwide via executive order.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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President Trump has vowed that new voter ID rules will be in place for the upcoming midterm elections, even if Congress does not approve the changes. He claims he has found legal arguments to support an executive order on the matter, though it's unclear how he could legally mandate such nationwide changes without congressional approval.

Why it matters

Trump's push for stricter voter ID laws and limits on mail-in voting is the latest in a series of Republican efforts to reshape election rules following his baseless claims that the 2020 election was "rigged." This move could face legal challenges and raises concerns about potential voter suppression ahead of a critical midterm election.

The details

Trump has been pressuring Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act, a GOP-backed bill that would tighten federal election rules by requiring proof of citizenship to register, mandating photo ID for in-person voting, and ordering states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls. The House approved the measure this week after lobbying from Trump, but it's expected to stall in the Senate, where Democrats can block it with a filibuster.

  • President Trump posted his vow on Truth Social on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • The House approved the SAVE America Act this week.

The players

President Trump

The 45th President of the United States who has made unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election and is now pushing for stricter voter ID laws and limits on mail-in voting.

SAVE America Act

A GOP-backed bill that would tighten federal election rules by requiring proof of citizenship to register, mandating photo ID for in-person voting, and ordering states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls.

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What they’re saying

“There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!”

— President Trump (Truth Social)

What’s next

The SAVE America Act is expected to stall in the Senate, where Democrats can block it with a filibuster. It remains to be seen how President Trump will attempt to implement new voter ID rules without congressional approval.

The takeaway

Trump's vow to impose new voter ID requirements for the midterm elections, even without congressional approval, is the latest escalation in the ongoing partisan battle over election rules and voter access. This move could face legal challenges and further erode public trust in the electoral process.