President Donald Trump doubled down Tuesday on his call for Republicans to take control of elections, undercutting White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s attempt to walk back his controversial remarks about seizing federal control over voting.
Trump, 79, reiterated comments he made during a podcast interview with Dan Bongino in which he argued that Republicans should “nationalize” elections by taking over the way ballots are cast and counted. The president’s remarks came just hours after Leavitt, 28, sought to explain away his statements by claiming he was referring to passing the SAVE Act.
“I want to see elections be honest,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office when pressed on what he meant by exerting federal control over elections.
Trump claimed that states are agents for the federal government in elections. He went on to accuse several Democratic-run cities of election corruption, naming Detroit, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Fulton County, Georgia.
The president suggested Republicans should take over voting in at least 15 places. He made baseless claims about election fraud and accused Democratic cities of corruption without providing evidence. Trump also claimed immigrants were being brought to the United States to vote illegally, even though noncitizen voting is already illegal.
Earlier on Tuesday, Leavitt attempted to walk back the president’s declaration. When pressed, Leavitt insisted the president was referring to Congress passing the SAVE Act.
“What the president was referring to is the SAVE Act, which is a huge, commonsense piece of legislation that Republicans have supported that President Trump is committed to signing into law during his term,” Leavitt said.
However, Trump did not mention the SAVE Act during his interview with Bongino on Monday. The proposed legislation does not authorize the federal government to take over elections in specific states. Leavitt claimed Trump had spoken with House Speaker Mike Johnson about the SAVE Act.
The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. The legislation passed the GOP-controlled House. It is formally known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.
Trump’s remarks marked yet another effort to amplify election misinformation and revive baseless allegations that U.S. elections are rigged. He lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.
The comments come as Trump raised doubts about his party’s prospects at the November midterm elections. The 2026 midterms represent a critical test for Republicans as they seek to maintain control of Congress.
Even Republican leaders on Capitol Hill pushed back against the president’s call to nationalize voting. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he is not in favor of federalizing elections. House Speaker Johnson, 54, claimed Trump was simply expressing frustration with blue states.
U.S. elections are primarily governed by state law, with voting administered by local officials across the country. The federal system of elections has been a cornerstone of American democracy since the nation’s founding, with states retaining significant autonomy over election procedures, registration requirements, and ballot counting methods.
The Constitution grants states broad authority to conduct elections, with Congress having limited power to regulate the “times, places and manner” of federal elections. Any effort to federalize election administration would face significant constitutional challenges and require congressional action.
Trump’s call for federal takeover of elections in specific jurisdictions represents an unprecedented proposal by a sitting president. Historical precedents for federal intervention in state elections have been limited to enforcement of voting rights laws, particularly in cases of documented discrimination.
The FBI recently raided Fulton County, Georgia, elections offices, where the president has long made baseless claims about election fraud. Federal officials seized records but provided little explanation as the Trump administration continues its search for alleged voter fraud.
Election security experts note 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 coordinate. 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 true focus, would shift the burden of proof from election officials to individual voters. Currently, 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 sufficient documentation. The legislation would upend online and mail-in voter registration processes that millions of Americans currently use.
Critics of the SAVE Act warn it would create barriers 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 lack easy access to such documentation.
Republicans argue the bill is necessary to prevent noncitizen voting in federal elections. However, studies have repeatedly shown that noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare in U.S. elections. Federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting, with violators subject to fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
The discrepancy between Trump’s call for federal takeover of elections in 15 places and Leavitt’s explanation about the SAVE Act highlights ongoing tensions within the administration over messaging on election issues. The press secretary’s attempt to reframe the president’s remarks appeared aimed at addressing concerns among Republican lawmakers about constitutional overreach.
Johnson acknowledged he could not provide evidence of fraud but said he was concerned about blue states. When asked specifically about a “takeover,” Johnson responded “no, no, no” as he walked away from reporters.