Donald Trump Denies Knowledge of Plan to Seize Election Control

President Donald Trump has publicly denied any knowledge of a proposal to declare a national emergency and seize federal control over the 2026 midterm elections. The plan was promoted by Peter Ticktin, a Florida-based lawyer and childhood friend of the president, who authored a 17-page draft executive order.

Ticktin's proposal suggests the president exercise sweeping powers over electoral machinery to mandate hand-counted ballots, nationwide voter identification, and restrictions on mail-in voting. He alleges that foreign nations, including China, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, manipulated voting machines in 2020. Ticktin claims that the captured leader of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, will provide evidence of a "surreptitious overtaking of a country" and that Democrats are plotting to steal congressional seats to remove Trump and Vice President JD Vance from office.

White House officials stated that Ticktin overstates his influence and does not shape administration policy. Legal experts warned that such an order would be unconstitutional and trigger a crisis, as election authority rests with states and Congress. While distancing himself from Ticktin's plan, Trump continues to pursue other election reforms, such as the SAVE America Act and a March 2025 executive order regarding proof of citizenship for voter registration.