BRIEFING ROOM

In this week’s Oval Office meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump repeated the Russian dictator’s claim that America’s elections are “rigged” because of mail-in voting. Trump admires and listens to Putin. In the past, Trump has also praised Hungary’s President Viktor Orbán. Trump has said that “There’s nobody that’s better, smarter, or a better leader than Viktor Orbán. He’s fantastic.” These are the models Trump seeks to emulate.

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But America is not Russia. America is not Hungary. Our strength has always been free and fair elections, the rule of law, and the peaceful transfer of power. That is what separates a democracy from authoritarianism. But Trump is moving us to the dark side. ​

He is lying to the American people about election fraud on all fronts. He deliberately repeats these falsehoods until they feel like the truth. This tactic has been his weapon to undermine institutions, discredit government programs, and divide the nation. Now, he is weaponizing our elections.

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Trump’s rants this week about banning mail-in voting and ending the use of voting machines are a way to prepare his base to reject the 2026 election if the GOP loses.  We know the danger of this rhetoric. January 6, 2021, showed us the devastating and deadly consequences. 

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However, the hypocrisy of the mail-in voting lie is staggering. In 2024, Republicans embraced mail-in ballots, and Trump himself voted by mail. If his baseless claims of fraud were true, does that invalidate his own ballot? Despite what Trump says, mail-in voting has proven to strengthen democracy by expanding access with little to no fraud reported.

The Constitution states that the timing, place, and manner of elections “shall be prescribed in each state” by local legislatures, and that Congress has the power to pass laws modifying state election regulations. Nowhere does the president have the authority to dictate how Americans vote. ​

Yet he pushed TX to redraw its Congressional map. The GOP got what they wanted for now. They have positioned themselves to gain up to five new seats. Trump’s assault on our election system and, ultimately, our democracy, is well underway. ​

History warns us what happens when nations follow the path of those who bend the law and narrative for their own dangerous political gain. It is up to us as responsible citizens to do everything we can to steer our country in the opposite direction. ​

Stay engaged. Support JAC’s pro-democracy candidates. Register voters. Encourage friends and family to ALWAYS vote.

Elections have consequences.