Trump Pushes for Federal Control of Elections, Raising Alarm Over Midterms

Former president calls for GOP to 'take over' voting in at least 15 places, drawing criticism from lawmakers

Feb. 4, 2026 at 5:07pm

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Former President Donald Trump has sparked outrage by calling for the Republican Party to 'take over' the voting process in at least 15 places, a move critics say is an attempt to interfere with free and fair elections ahead of the upcoming midterms. Trump has repeatedly made false claims about widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, and his latest comments have prompted lawmakers, including Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, to accuse him of trying to seize control of the electoral process.

Why it matters

Trump's remarks raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the potential for political interference in elections. As the midterm elections approach, his calls for the GOP to 'nationalize the voting' could undermine public confidence in the democratic system and set a dangerous precedent for future elections.

The details

In an interview with former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino, Trump repeated his false claims about a 'stolen' 2020 election and pushed a conspiracy theory that Democrats have allowed illegal immigrants to vote. He then urged the Republican Party to 'take over the voting' in at least 15 places, a move that critics say is an attempt to interfere with the electoral process. Trump's comments come as his FBI agents recently raided an election center in Fulton County, Georgia, seizing ballots and voting records in an apparent effort to bolster his claims of voter fraud.

  • On February 2, 2026, Trump made the comments about the GOP 'taking over' the voting process during an interview with Dan Bongino.
  • On February 3, 2026, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to explain Trump's remarks, saying he was referring to the SAVE Act, a bill that tightens proof of citizenship requirements.
  • Also on February 3, 2026, Trump doubled down on his comments, questioning the need for states to oversee elections and suggesting the federal government should be responsible for running them.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has repeatedly made false claims about widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election and is now pushing for the Republican Party to 'take over' the voting process in at least 15 places.

Karoline Leavitt

The current White House Press Secretary who tried to downplay Trump's remarks about a possible takeover of elections, saying he was referring to the SAVE Act, a bill that tightens proof of citizenship requirements.

Raphael Warnock

The Democratic senator from Georgia who called out Trump's attempts to interfere in the electoral process, saying the former president 'knows he can't win fair and square' and is trying to 'seize control of our elections.'

Tulsi Gabbard

The former Director of National Intelligence who was spotted at the location of the FBI raid on an election center in Fulton County, Georgia, raising questions about the separation between political leadership and active investigations.

Kash Patel

The current FBI director who is working directly with Tulsi Gabbard on the effort to 'ensure that our elections, again, are fair and transparent moving forward.'

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What they’re saying

“Donald Trump is a failed President, a liar, and a thief. He knows he can't win fair and square. That's why he is trying to seize control of our elections. We won't let him get away with it.”

— Raphael Warnock, Georgia Democratic Senator (X)

“Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by the president of the United States to oversee the sanctity and security of our American elections. She's working directly alongside the FBI director Kash Patel. This is a coordinated, whole of government effort to ensure that our elections, again, are fair and transparent moving forward.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (Twitter)

“I want to see elections be honest, and if a state can't run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it. Because if you think about it, a state is an agent for the federal government in elections. I don't know why the federal government doesn't do 'em anyway.”

— Donald Trump (Reporters)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Trump's latest comments about taking control of the electoral process raise serious concerns about the integrity of future elections and the potential for political interference. This case highlights the ongoing battle over voting rights and the need for robust safeguards to protect the democratic process.