Trump Calls for Republican Takeover of Elections in 15 States
Washington, 3 February 2026
President Trump has dramatically escalated his election rhetoric by urging Republicans to ‘nationalise’ voting procedures across at least 15 states, marking a significant departure from America’s traditional state-controlled electoral system. Speaking on Dan Bongino’s podcast on 2nd February 2026, Trump declared that ‘Republicans ought to nationalise the voting,’ coinciding with FBI raids on Fulton County election facilities that seized 2020 ballots and records. This represents Trump’s most direct challenge yet to constitutional principles requiring states to administer their own elections, as he continues promoting unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election despite multiple investigations finding no widespread fraud sufficient to alter outcomes.
Federal Intervention and Constitutional Boundaries
Trump’s directive represents a fundamental challenge to the constitutional framework governing American elections. The President specifically instructed that ‘Republicans should say, We want to take over. We should take over the voting in at least 15 places’ during his appearance on The Dan Bongino Show [1][3]. This directive contradicts the established principle that the Constitution requires states to administer elections [3]. Trump has previously argued that ‘the States are merely an agent for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes’ and that ‘they must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them’ [3]. This interpretation significantly expands federal authority over traditionally state-controlled electoral processes.
FBI Actions and Georgia Election Investigation
The timing of Trump’s comments coincided with intensified federal scrutiny of Georgia’s electoral processes. On 28th January 2026, FBI agents seized ballots and voting records from the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia [1]. Following this raid, Trump spoke directly with the FBI agents involved on 2nd February 2026, praising and thanking them for their actions [1]. During his podcast appearance, Trump hinted at future developments, stating that ‘you’re going to see some interesting things come out’ in Georgia, though he provided no specific details [3]. The handling of election records in Fulton County has remained contentious, with ongoing legal battles over access to 2020 voter data and federal subpoenas seeking ballots and related materials [3].
Historical Context and Legal Challenges
Trump’s current push builds upon previous unsuccessful legal efforts in Georgia. In 2023, then-Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis secured a wide-ranging indictment against Trump and others alleging schemes to overturn Georgia’s 2020 results, but the case was later dismissed after courts disqualified her office over a conflict of interest [3]. Multiple state investigations and independent reviews have consistently found procedural mistakes in some election processes but concluded there was no widespread fraud sufficient to alter the outcome [3]. Despite these findings, Trump maintained during the interview that he won the 2020 election in a landslide and lost only because people voted illegally [3]. Trump’s allies have pursued false claims of election fraud for years in Georgia [1].
Executive Actions and Judicial Response
Trump has already attempted to implement federal control over election procedures through executive action. He issued an executive order that would require applicants using the national voter registration form to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship and would impose changes affecting mail-in voting [3]. However, key provisions of this order have been blocked by federal courts and are not currently in effect as legal challenges continue [3]. Trump has made election security in the 2026 midterms a major focus of his agenda, positioning these efforts as necessary reforms rather than constitutional overreach [3]. The ongoing judicial resistance to these measures demonstrates the legal complexity surrounding federal intervention in state-administered electoral processes.