Trump Fills Administration With Election Conspiracy Theorists

President Donald Trump has stocked his second-term administration with individuals who have promoted his false claims about the 2020 election.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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President Donald Trump has appointed numerous individuals who have pushed conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election to key positions in his administration. This includes the Attorney General, lawyers at the Justice Department, and others who have either supported Trump's false claims of election fraud or actively worked to overturn his loss to Joe Biden. Election officials across the country, especially in Democratic-led states, are bracing for more turmoil and efforts to undermine elections during the upcoming midterm elections.

Why it matters

Trump's appointments of election conspiracy theorists to powerful government roles raises concerns about the integrity of future elections. These individuals now have the ability to use the levers of federal power to further Trump's false narrative about the 2020 election and potentially interfere with or undermine the democratic process going forward.

The details

Trump has appointed a number of individuals who have promoted his false claims about the 2020 election to key positions in his administration. This includes Attorney General Pam Bondi, who helped try to overturn Trump's 2020 loss, as well as lawyers at the Justice Department like Kurt Olsen who unsuccessfully pushed the DOJ to back Trump's election fraud claims. The administration has also seized ballots and election records from Fulton County, Georgia, a Democratic stronghold, based on debunked 2020 claims.

  • In late January 2026, the administration seized ballots and 2020 election records from Fulton County, Georgia.
  • In February 2026, Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing.

The players

Pam Bondi

The current Attorney General, who helped try to overturn Trump's 2020 election loss.

Kurt Olsen

A lawyer at the Justice Department who unsuccessfully pushed the DOJ to back Trump's false claims of election fraud in 2020.

Joanna Lydgate

The chief executive officer of the States United Democracy Center, which tracks those who promote election conspiracy theories.

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What they’re saying

“The election denial movement is now embedded across our federal government, which makes it more powerful than ever. Trump and his allies are trying to use all of the powers of the federal government to undermine elections, with an eye to the upcoming midterms.”

— Joanna Lydgate, Chief Executive Officer, States United Democracy Center

What’s next

Election officials across the country, especially those in states controlled politically by Democrats, are bracing for more turmoil during this year's midterm elections.

The takeaway

Trump's appointments of election conspiracy theorists to key government roles raises serious concerns about the integrity of future elections, as these individuals now have the power to use federal resources to further Trump's false narrative and potentially interfere with the democratic process.