On Feb. 3, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his stance that Republicans should exert control over elections. This came as a contradiction to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s efforts to clarify his previous controversial comments on the federal takeover of voting.
During a podcast interview with Dan Bongino, 79-year-old Trump stressed his view that Republicans should “nationalize” elections by controlling the process of casting and counting of votes. This clarification came shortly after Leavitt, 28, tried to dismiss his comments, insisting he was advocating for the passing of the SAVE Act.
When asked about his intentions for federal control over elections, Trump stated from the Oval Office, “I want to see elections be honest.”
Trump further argued that states act as agents for the federal government in elections. He proceeded to accuse several cities run by Democrats, including Detroit, Michigan; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Atlanta, Georgia; and Fulton County, Georgia, of election malpractice.
The president suggested that Republicans should control voting in at least 15 locations. He made unsupported accusations about election fraud and corruption in Democratic cities, without providing evidence. Furthermore, Trump claimed immigrants were being brought to the United States to participate in illegal voting, even though noncitizen voting is already illegal.
Earlier on the same day, Leavitt tried to retract Trump’s declaration.
“What the president was referring to is the SAVE Act, which is a significant, logical piece of legislation that Republicans have supported and that President Trump is dedicated to signing into law during his term,” explained Leavitt.
However, Trump did not mention the SAVE Act during his Feb.2 interview with Bongino. The proposed bill does not permit the federal government to take over elections in specific states. Leavitt stated that Trump had a discussion with House Speaker Mike Johnson regarding the SAVE Act.
The SAVE Act, formally known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, would necessitate proof of citizenship to register to vote. The bill passed the House, which is controlled by the GOP.
Trump’s comments are the latest instance of his efforts to propagate misinformation about elections and rekindle unsupported allegations that U.S. elections are rigged. He was defeated in the 2020 election by Joe Biden.
The comments were made amid Trump’s skepticism about his party’s chances in the November 2026 midterm elections. The 2026 midterms pose a crucial challenge for Republicans as they aim to retain control of Congress.
Even Republican leaders in Congress have resisted Trump’s call to nationalize voting. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed his opposition to federalizing elections. House Speaker Johnson suggested that Trump was merely expressing frustration with states governed by Democrats.
U.S. elections are primarily regulated by state law. Local officials across the country administer voting, a principle of American democracy since the nation’s inception. States maintain significant autonomy over election procedures, registration requirements, and the counting of ballots.
The Constitution gives states the authority to conduct elections, with Congress having limited power to regulate the “times, places and manner” of federal elections. Any attempt to federalize election administration would face considerable constitutional hurdles and require congressional action.
Trump’s suggestion for a federal takeover of elections in specific jurisdictions is an unprecedented proposal from a sitting president. The historical precedents for federal intervention in state elections have been limited to enforcing voting rights laws, especially in cases of proven discrimination.
The FBI recently searched Fulton County, Georgia, election offices, a place where the president has consistently made unsupported accusations of election fraud. Federal officials seized records but provided scant explanation as the Trump administration continues its search for alleged voter fraud.
Election security experts emphasize that U.S. elections involve thousands of separate jurisdictions, each with its own procedures and safeguards. This decentralized system makes widespread fraud extremely difficult to orchestrate. Multiple audits and court cases following the 2020 election found no evidence of fraud sufficient to change the outcome.
The SAVE Act, which Leavitt cited as the president’s primary concern, would transfer the burden of proof from election officials to individual voters. At present, election officials verify eligibility using state and federal databases. The proposed legislation would require all Americans to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote or updating their registration.
Under the SAVE Act, government-issued driver’s licenses, including REAL IDs, as well as military and tribal IDs, would not be deemed adequate documentation. The legislation would disrupt online and mail-in voter registration processes that millions of Americans currently utilize.
Opponents of the SAVE Act warn it would create obstacles for millions of U.S. citizens seeking to exercise their right to vote. Birth certificates and passports would become necessary documents for voter registration, potentially disenfranchising citizens who do not have easy access to such documentation.
Republicans contend the bill is necessary to prevent noncitizen voting in federal elections. However, research has repeatedly shown that noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare in U.S. elections.
Johnson conceded he could not provide evidence of fraud but expressed his concern about states governed by Democrats. When asked specifically about a “takeover,” Johnson responded “no, no, no” as he departed from reporters.