Trump doubles down on calls for GOP to 'nationalize' voting as congressional leaders balk
President Donald Trump doubled down on his call for Republicans to "nationalize" voting, this time defending the idea directly to the press.Trump made the comments during a signing ceremony in...
By Fox News · Fox News
President Donald Trump doubled down on his call for Republicans to "nationalize" voting, this time defending the idea directly to the press. Trump made the comments during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office on Tuesday, flanked by prominent congressional Republicans. White House officials have said Trump is primarily interested in defending election integrity. "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," Trump told reporters at the event, referencing the GOP lawmakers. "Take a look at Detroit … take a look at Philadelphia, take a look at Atlanta," Trump continued. "The federal government should not allow that. The federal government should get involved. These are agents of the federal government to count the vote. If they can’t count the vote legally and honestly, then somebody else should take over." TRUMP DOJ DEMANDS MINNESOTA VOTING RECORDS OVER SAME-DAY REGISTRATION 'VOUCHING' CONCERNS Prominent Republicans have hesitated to fall in behind Trump on the issue. Senate Majority Leader John Thune outright rejected the idea when asked about it later Tuesday. "I’m not in favor of federalizing elections, no. I think that’s a constitutional issue," he told reporters. HOUSE REPUBLICANS PUSH ELECTION OVERHAUL WITH VOTER ID, MAIL-IN BALLOT CHANGES AHEAD OF MIDTERMS House Speaker Mike Johnson sought to make excuses for Trump's suggestion when he was asked about the issue. He argued Trump was simply "expressing his frustration" about election issues. Nevertheless, he ultimately said he would not support federalizing elections either. Trump first called for federalizing elections during a podcast interview with former Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino that aired Monday. "The Republicans should say, 'We want to take over,'" Trump told Bongino. "We should take over the voting ... in at least many, 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. We have states that are so crook…