Trump Votes by Mail After Criticizing the Practice

President contradicts himself on mail-in voting security just days after submitting his own mail-in ballot.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 4:40am

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President Trump described voting by mail as 'cheating' at an event in Memphis, Tennessee, just days after submitting a mail-in ballot himself for a special election in Florida. This is not the first time the president has utilized mail-in voting while publicly criticizing the practice as susceptible to fraud.

Why it matters

The president's repeated and unsubstantiated claims regarding mail-in voting could further erode public trust in the electoral process, despite assurances from election experts that robust checks and balances are in place to prevent widespread fraud. This contradiction highlights the political debate around voting methods and security.

The details

Records indicate Trump voted by mail in the special election for House district 87 in Florida, which includes his Mar-a-Lago golf club. He has endorsed the Republican candidate in the race. The president has recently renewed claims that mail-in voting is subject to widespread fraud and is pressuring Senate Republicans to pass a restrictive voting bill - the SAVE America Act - that would require proof of US citizenship for new voters and potentially ban mail-in ballots with limited exceptions.

  • On March 22, 2026, Trump voted by mail in the special election for House district 87 in Florida.
  • On March 25, 2026, Trump described voting by mail as 'cheating' during remarks in Memphis, Tennessee.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who has both utilized and criticized mail-in voting.

Olivia Wales

A White House spokesperson who characterized Trump's decision to vote by mail as 'a non-story' and stated that the SAVE America Act allows for exceptions for those with illness, disability, military service, or travel, but opposes universal mail-in voting due to perceived susceptibility to fraud.

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What they’re saying

“Mail-in voting means mail-in cheating. I call it mail-in cheating, and we got to do something about it all.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

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