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President Donald Trump at bill signing
Apparently nervous about the potential outcome of the midterm and 2028 elections, President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that the federal government take over elections in individual states — a move that would likely violate the U.S. Constitution.
This time, he specifically mentioned Detroit, accusing the city of having corrupt elections in 2020 — a claim that has been repeatedly debunked.
“If a state can’t run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it,” Trump said Tuesday during a bill-signing ceremony at the White House. “Go to 2020 and look at the facts that are coming out — rigged, crooked elections. If we have areas — take a look at Detroit, take a look at Pennsylvania, take a look at Philadelphia. You go take a look at Atlanta, look at some of the places. Horrible corruption in elections, and the federal government should not allow that. The federal government should get involved.”
A day earlier, Trump told podcaster Dan Bongino, his former deputy FBI director, that Republicans should “take over” and “nationalize” voting.
Michigan Democratic officials pushed back, according to a report by CBS Detroit.
“This also feels like an effort to deter us from holding him accountable at the ballot box — either this fall or in 2028 — by falsely suggesting that the federal government should have a role overseeing elections,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said on CNN, according to CBS Detroit. “Elections are run by the states. We do it very well — with integrity, securely, and effectively — time and time again.”
Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey said, “I must state what all Detroiters know to be true: Detroit has a history of fair and transparent election administration. Any move to take over Detroit elections would be partisan politics at its worst.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also issued a statement: “Any attempt by the federal government to take over Michigan elections should be viewed as an attempt to take away Michiganders’ constitutional right to vote. It won’t happen on my watch.”
