Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• DHS instructs agents to identify naturalized citizens who voted — The Department of Homeland Security sent a memo instructing agents in its investigative arm to identify any person who registered to vote and/or voted in any federal, state, or local election and subsequently became naturalized U.S. citizens. This directive, seen by the Guardian, is part of the administration's effort to stir up fears about illegal voting by noncitizens—a phenomenon that is extremely rare—ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Supporting reports

• Trump calls for federal takeover of voting in Democratic cities — During an appearance on Dan Bongino's podcast earlier in February 2026, Trump stated that Republicans should "take over the voting" in at least 15 places and that the federal government should target voting procedures in heavily Democratic cities like Detroit and Atlanta. While Trump cannot unilaterally nationalize elections—the Constitution grants that authority to states—his statements signal intent to circumvent constitutional limits on executive power over elections.

Supporting reports

• Draft executive order seeks to control voting — Right-wing activists are circulating a draft executive order that would declare a national emergency, allowing President Trump to take control over voting processes. The order claims that China interfered in the 2020 election and seeks to ban mail-in ballots and voting machines. Legal experts have called the plan unconstitutional, as it violates the states' control over elections.
• Right-wing activists circulating draft executive order to control voting — Right-wing activists are circulating a draft executive order that declares a national emergency to give Trump control over voting. The activists state they are working with the White House. The order reiterates a debunked claim that China interfered in the 2020 presidential election and asserts that the president can ban mail-in ballots and voting machines. Matt Cohen of Democracy Docket called the plan "blatantly illegal" and unconstitutional. The U.S. Constitution grants sole control of elections to the states, not the president. Mark R. Warner, top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, refuted the claim of a national emergency and stated: "We've been raising the alarm for weeks about President Trump's attacks on our elections and now we're seeing reports that outline how they may be planning to do it. This is a plot to interfere with the will of voters and undermine both the rule of law and public confidence in our elections."

Supporting reports

• Trump made false election claims and attacked institutions at Angel Families event — At a White House event honoring Angel Families, Trump diverted remarks into grievances about polling, false claims about election results, and attacks on institutions that constrain his power. Trump claimed he received 85 million votes (contradicting official results of 78–79 million), dismissed unfavorable polling as "fake polls," and stated "I suffer for the country." The event was intended to honor families affected by crime but became a platform for Trump's personal grievances.
• Trump made unsubstantiated claims of election fraud at crime victims event — At an event honoring families of crime victims, President Trump made unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was rigged by "millions and millions of votes," that Democrats engaged in ballot fraud, and that he actually received 85 million votes rather than the reported 78-79 million. He stated "They cheated like hell" and "It was a rigged election." The event was intended to honor crime victims' families but Trump used it to air personal grievances.
• Trump claimed Democrats rigged 2024 election and inflated his vote total — In remarks to "Angel Families" on February 24, 2026, Trump complained about "fake polls" showing his popularity falling and claimed "silent support" exists. He returned to complaints about the 2020 election, which he continues to insist Democrats rigged. Regarding the 2024 election, in which he received approximately 77.3 million votes, Trump claimed: "I won, I got probably 85 million votes...they cheated in this election too." He falsely claimed Republicans do not receive mail-in ballots while Democrats receive multiple ballots, calling Democrats "professional cheaters."

Supporting reports

• Trump repeats false Epstein exoneration claim — President Trump stated on Air Force One that he has "nothing to hide," has been "exonerated," and has "nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein," claiming he has been "totally exonerated on Epstein." Representative James Walkinshaw (D-VA) responded that Trump "hasn't been exonerated" and that "Trump's relationship with Epstein was much longer and much deeper than he has revealed," citing information from released Epstein files.
• Trump claimed exoneration regarding Epstein and made false statements about 2020 election — On Air Force One, Trump responded to questions about Prince Andrew's arrest by claiming he is "totally exonerated" regarding Epstein, stating "I did nothing." Trump falsely claimed that Epstein "was against me" and "was fighting me in the election" based on "the last three million pages of documents." In fact, Trump has not been exonerated. Later in Georgia, Trump promoted the false claim that he won the 2020 election and urged Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which he claimed would prevent future losses. Trump stated: "We'll never lose a race. For 50 years, we won't lose a race."
• Trump expressed sympathy for Prince Andrew and claimed exoneration regarding Epstein — Trump responded to Prince Andrew's arrest by expressing sympathy for his "old friend," stating he felt it was "a shame" and "a very sad thing." Trump claimed he was "the expert in this because I've been exonerated" and stated "I did nothing" regarding Epstein, while noting that "nobody used to speak about Epstein when he was alive."
• Trump makes false claims about voter ID support and mail-in ballot prevalence — President Trump claimed that 98 percent of the population supports voter ID requirements and wants to end mail-in ballots, which he characterized as corrupt. Trump stated that the United States is "the only country in the world that has this system of mail in ballots" and asserted that if voter ID and proof of citizenship were required, "Democrats could never win an election." Trump made these claims while promoting the SAVE Act, which extends beyond voter ID requirements to include additional provisions.

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• Sen. Murkowski opposes SAVE Act — Sen. Lisa Murkowski became the first Republican senator to publicly oppose the SAVE Act, a Trump-backed sweeping election bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote nationwide. Murkowski noted that Republicans unanimously opposed similar federal election reform under Biden, citing constitutional authority of states to regulate elections and warning that one-size-fits-all DC mandates do not work in states like Alaska.

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• Trump announces intent to change voting laws by executive action — Trump's social media account announced that he intends to change the nation's voting laws unilaterally, stating he will present "an irrefutable" legal argument for voter ID and citizenship requirements and that "There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!" He also called for an end to mail-in ballots except for military, disability, illness, or travel.

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• Kristi Noem calls for SAVE America Act passage — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters in Arizona that Congress must pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act to secure U.S. elections. She claimed noncitizens are voting for Democrats and enabling them to win elections, but when asked for an example of noncitizen voting, she said she could not point to a case but assumed it happened. The bill would require voters to show either a passport or birth certificate with matching names to register and would require states to purge voting rolls every month.
• Kristi Noem held press conference on election integrity with unsubstantiated claims — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem held a press conference in Arizona regarding "election integrity" and DHS's potential role in elections if the SAVE Act passes. When asked for examples of voter fraud in Arizona, she responded "I'm sure there's many of them" without providing any. She also addressed a question about CBP shooting down a party balloon it mistook for a drone with a laser, citing a "joint agency task force" but providing no substantive explanation for the lack of FAA coordination.

Supporting reports

• DHS uses SAVE tool to identify noncitizen voters — DHS has been using an electronic tool called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE), previously used to check eligibility for public benefits, to find noncitizen voters in a database made up of confidential data from different government agencies. That information includes confidential data from the Social Security Administration, accessed by the Department of Government Efficiency. Republican secretaries of state in twenty-seven states have agreed to use SAVE to check their voter rolls.
• SAVE system makes persistent errors identifying naturalized citizens — The SAVE system makes "persistent mistakes," frequently assessing naturalized citizens as noncitizens. The system automatically refers those individuals to DHS for possible criminal investigation, and in certain states, individuals have had to prove their citizenship to be reinstated as voters. County clerk Brianna Lennon of Boone County, Missouri, stated the system is "not ready for prime time" and she will not risk the security and constitutional rights of voters for bad data.
• ProPublica reported federal voter-verification tool misidentifies citizens as noncitizens — ProPublica reported that a federal tool designed to identify noncitizens on voter rolls is consistently and incorrectly marking U.S. citizens as noncitizens, particularly those born outside the United States. This tool is the same system that states would be required to use under the GOP's SAVE America Act, which passed the House this week. Research from Kansas showed that when a similar version was implemented, approximately 40 ineligible voters were purged while 31,000 legal citizens were prevented from registering—a ratio of 775 legal voters lost for every 1 ineligible voter.

Supporting reports

• SAVE Act Threatens Voter Disenfranchisement — The SAVE Act, currently under consideration, would require all voters to prove their citizenship, potentially disenfranchising women who have changed their names due to marriage, transgender individuals, and others. While the act may face challenges in the Senate, its passage could lead to significant barriers to voting for many citizens. Advocacy groups are urging the public to contact elected officials to oppose this legislation.
• Congressional Republicans advance restrictive voter eligibility bill — Congressional Republicans have fast-tracked the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a restrictive anti-voting bill based on Trump's baseless claims of widespread voter fraud by noncitizens. The bill would instantly disenfranchise millions of eligible voters by imposing citizenship verification requirements that exceed constitutional and statutory protections.
• Republicans advancing Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act — Republicans are advancing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and to vote. Only five states—Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington—have "enhanced" driver's licenses meeting the requirement; in all other states, voters would need either a passport or a birth certificate. Approximately half of Americans lack a passport, others lack birth certificates, and the names of married women who took their husband's last name and transgender Americans would not match their birth certificates. The Brennan Center for Justice found that if the measure passes, approximately 21 million Americans could lose their votes. The bill also calls for state officials to purge voter rolls.
• Republicans propose voter suppression legislation — The Republican Party is advancing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register and vote. This legislation could disenfranchise approximately 21 million Americans who lack the necessary documentation.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting the SAVE America Act and voter ID requirements — The White House issued a fact sheet asserting that voter ID requirements are "overwhelmingly popular" across all demographics and calling on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which the document states requires photo ID and implements "critical measures to protect federal elections from fraud and abuse." The fact sheet cites polling data from Pew Research Center (83% support), Gallup (84% support), and quotes from CNN and NBC anchors, and characterizes Democratic opposition as "placing partisan politics above the clear will of the American people."
• SAVE America Act passed House with narrow margin — The SAVE America Act passed the House of Representatives on February 11, 2026, by a vote of 218 to 213. The bill requires documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and would affect not only first-time registration but also routine voter registration updates. Evidence from Kansas, which implemented a similar proof-of-citizenship law, showed that the documentary requirement prevented approximately 31,000 eligible citizens (12 percent of all applicants) from registering to vote, blocking far more citizens than noncitizens. Noncitizen voting in federal elections is already illegal and documented to be exceedingly rare.
• House Passes Restrictive Election Bill — The Republican-controlled House passed the SAVE America Act, which imposes strict voter ID requirements and mandates frequent voter roll purges. Critics argue it disenfranchises millions, particularly women and minorities, by requiring proof of citizenship that many lack. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces opposition.
• House Passes SAVE Act Requiring Citizenship Proof for Voting — The Republican-controlled House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation requiring proof of citizenship—such as passports or birth certificates—for voters to cast ballots. The Center for American Progress notes that approximately half of Americans lack a valid passport, and 69 million women cannot use birth certificates to prove citizenship due to name changes upon marriage. The bill also eliminates mail-only registration, mandates photo ID in all states, and requires states to conduct voter roll purges every 30 days. The measure now moves to the Senate.
• House passes SAVE America Act — The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act passed the House on Wednesday. The measure would require voters to show either a passport or birth certificate with matching names to register and would require states to purge their voting rolls every month. The bill must overcome a filibuster to pass the Senate.
• House passes SAVE America Act restricting voting for Americans abroad — The House of Representatives passed the SAVE America Act, which imposes in-person citizenship verification, proof of state residency, and repeated photo ID and citizenship document submission requirements at registration, ballot request, and voting stages. The bill would effectively prevent millions of eligible Americans living abroad—including military service members, diplomats, and expatriates—from voting. The measure centralizes voter eligibility authority in the federal executive, departing from two centuries of state election administration.
• House passes Save America Act, restricting voting access nationwide — The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Save America Act on February 12, 2026, by a vote of 218–213, with one Democratic defection. The bill requires proof of citizenship at voter registration, imposes a strict nationwide photo ID requirement (excluding student IDs), and significantly curtails mail-in voting. Implementation would be immediate, forcing states to rapidly realign voting systems. The bill faces a difficult path in the Senate and is expected to face federal court challenges.
• House passed SAVE America Act requiring use of flawed voter-verification system — The House passed the GOP's SAVE America Act this week, which would require states to use a federal voter-verification tool that ProPublica documented as consistently misidentifying U.S. citizens as noncitizens. The tool has a documented error rate that results in approximately 775 legal voters being disenfranchised for every 1 ineligible voter prevented from registering.

Supporting reports

• Trump Proposes "Federalizing" Elections in 15 States — Former President Trump has proposed "federalizing" elections in 15 states, a move that is considered unconstitutional and illegal. This proposal has sparked concerns about federal overreach and the potential undermining of state-controlled election processes. Advocacy groups are mobilizing to resist this effort and protect state election autonomy.
• FBI sent email to state election administrators inviting them to federal coordination meeting, triggering concerns about federal election interference — The FBI's Election Executive Kellie Hardiman sent a routine-appearing email to state election administrators inviting them to a call to discuss election cycle preparations. Multiple secretaries of state, both Democratic and Republican, interpreted the outreach as threatening given recent federal actions: the FBI's seizure of 2020 election materials in Georgia and Trump's stated desire to "nationalize" elections, a power reserved to states under the Constitution. Election officials reported destroyed trust in federal election authorities and expressed concern that federal officials may be attempting to rig elections themselves. Several officials indicated they may not attend the scheduled February 25 meeting out of fear their information could be weaponized against them.
• Trump announced desire to "nationalize" elections and created standing White House working group to investigate past elections and reform future processes — Trump has stated his intention to "nationalize" elections, a power constitutionally reserved to states. Inside the White House, he established a standing working group that meets regularly to coordinate federal efforts to investigate past elections and reform future election processes. Trump has also called for greater use of voter identification, a ban on mail voting, and prohibition on certain voting equipment types. He has stated he will accept election results only "if the elections are honest" and mused that "we shouldn't even have an election" given typical midterm losses for the sitting president's party.

Supporting reports

• Trump calls for federal takeover of election polls before 2026 midterms — President Trump called for his administration to take control of polling places before the 2026 midterm elections, following a special election in Texas where Democrat Taylor Rehmet flipped a Republican-held state Senate seat by a 32-point margin in a district Trump won by 17 points in 2024. The demand reflects Republican alarm at electoral losses and signals an escalation in rhetoric around election administration and voter legitimacy.

Supporting reports

• Steve Bannon stated ICE will surround polls in November — Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon stated on his podcast that "we're going to have ICE surround the polls come November" and added "we're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again." The statement preceded the White House press secretary's refusal to rule out ICE presence at voting sites.
• Steve Bannon calls for ICE presence at polling sites during midterm elections — Steve Bannon, former White House strategist and influential far-right podcast host, publicly stated on his War Room show that immigration agents should "surround the polls" during November's midterm elections. The statement repeats false claims about undocumented voter participation. Election officials nationwide have expressed concern about potential Trump administration interference in voting, particularly ICE presence at polling places, which can intimidate voters and suppress turnout. Courts have already blocked portions of Trump's citizenship-requirement executive order.
• Steve Bannon announces ICE will surround polls in November — Trump ally Steve Bannon stated on his podcast that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will surround polling places in November, framing it as prevention of election theft. Bannon declared "we will never again allow an election to be stolen," echoing rhetoric used to justify the 1898 Wilmington coup and signaling intent to use federal law enforcement to intimidate voters.
• Steve Bannon calls for ICE to surround polling places in November — On his podcast on February 4, 2026, Steve Bannon openly stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should surround polling places in November to prevent what he falsely characterizes as a stolen election. This statement constitutes a direct threat to free and fair elections and voter access. Bannon's statement has received minimal media coverage despite its severity and Trump's continued public association with Bannon.
• White House press secretary declined to rule out ICE presence at polling locations — During a White House briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she could not guarantee that ICE would not be present at voting sites during the November midterm elections, though she claimed Trump has no "formal plans" to deploy federal immigration agents to polling locations. Leavitt dismissed the question as "very silly," "hypothetical," and "disingenuous." The statement followed comments from former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who said on his podcast that "we're going to have ICE surround the polls come November" and "we're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again."

Supporting reports

• Rep. Luna threatened to block appropriations bills without SAVE Act attachment — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) announced that House GOP leadership would no longer move appropriations bills under suspension of rules, requiring instead a formal rule vote to which the SAVE Act could be added. Luna claimed to have sufficient votes to tank the Senate-passed bill unless Johnson attached the SAVE Act—a measure described as a poison pill unlikely to clear the Senate filibuster. Luna stated "Voter ID and the SAVE Act are NOT negotiable."
• Rep. Anna Paulina Luna claimed Thune agreed to standing filibuster for SAVE Act — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna posted that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, "in embracing the Standing Filibuster, will go down in history as one of the greatest majority leaders once he uses this mechanism to puts voter ID (via the Save America act) on the Senate floor." Luna claimed Thune agreed to use a standing filibuster procedure to force a vote on legislation that would nationalize election rules.
• Republican House members passed 5 of 6 appropriations bills after holdout — After Republican holdouts initially resisted, the House passed 5 of the 6 appropriations bills. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), the leader of the holdouts, claimed they did not capitulate but instead secured a commitment from Senate Majority Leader John Thune to use a "standing filibuster" to bring the SAVE Act (which would nationalize election rules) to a Senate vote.
• Senate Majority Leader Thune denied commitment to standing filibuster for SAVE Act — Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated he has not made any commitments to require a "standing" filibuster to pass the SAVE Act and said "the votes aren't there" to eliminate the filibuster. Thune said some Senate Republicans have expressed interest in the standing filibuster option "so we're going to have a conversation about it," but made no binding commitment.
• Speaker Mike Johnson stated no promises were made on SAVE Act — Speaker Mike Johnson stated: "No promises were made" regarding Senate commitments to advance the SAVE Act, contradicting Rep. Luna's claims that Thune had agreed to use a standing filibuster procedure.

Supporting reports

• Trump urges Republicans to "take over" voting nationwide — In a radio interview on "The Dan Bongino Show" on February 2, President Trump urged Republicans to "take over" voting across the country and called for the "nationalization" of elections. While advancing the Great Replacement Theory, Trump claimed immigrants were "brought to our country to vote and they vote illegally" and specifically called for Republicans to seize control of voting in "at least many, 15 places."
• Rep. Gimenez warned GOP of Latino voter defection over mass deportations — Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) stated that Latino voters are fleeing the Republican Party because of mass deportation enforcement. Gimenez said the administration had been warned about the enforcement approach and that there should have been a course correction long ago. He criticized the focus on "grandmothers" rather than "criminals and gang members," calling it "a mistake" that is "coming back to haunt us right now."
• Rep. Sessions attributed Republican election losses to weather — Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) told CNN that Republican voters did not show up for recent special elections because of a severe snow and ice storm in north Texas and central Texas, rather than attributing losses to other factors. The bulletin notes that Democratic turnout in the same weather was very strong and that results in Texas track with election patterns across the country over the past year.
• Trump made false claims about Minnesota election integrity on podcast — On February 2, 2026, President Trump appeared on the Dan Bongino Show and claimed he won Minnesota three times, that the state is "rigged" with "Somalians," and that Republicans should "nationalize" voting. Trump has repeatedly claimed the 2020 election was stolen—claims exhaustively debunked by courts and election officials. He suggested federal control over elections, contradicting the Constitution's assignment of election administration to states.
• Trump encouraged Republicans to "nationalize" elections in 15 states he lost — During an interview on former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino's podcast, Trump encouraged Republicans to "nationalize" elections and "take over" voting in at least 15 "places" that he falsely claims to have won but did not. Trump stated that "states are an agent of the federal government in elections" and referred without evidence to "horrible corruption" in Detroit, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, arguing that "the federal government should get involved" and "take over."

Supporting reports

• Seizure of 2020 Ballots in Georgia — Ballots from the 2020 election in Georgia were seized, raising concerns about election integrity and the potential for undermining public trust in electoral processes. The seizure has been linked to ongoing disputes and investigations related to the 2020 election results. This action has prompted criticism from civil rights groups and calls for transparency in the handling of election materials.
• FBI executes search warrant on Fulton County Georgia elections facility — In early 2026, the FBI executed a search warrant on an elections facility in Fulton County, Georgia, and seized approximately 700 boxes of 2020 election records, including original ballots. Trump appeared to have advance knowledge of the raid and directed then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to participate. After the raid, Trump personally thanked some of the agents involved. The raid was allegedly part of a criminal investigation into record retention violations but relied largely on debunked conspiracy theories.
• FBI raids Fulton County elections office and seizes 2020 election documents — FBI agents executed a criminal warrant at Fulton County's elections offices, seizing approximately 700 boxes of 2020 election documents. The raid was authorized by U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus (St. Louis-based), designated by the Trump administration as its point person on election integrity cases. Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts reported receiving a warning call two days prior that he and other Georgia officials faced imminent arrest. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's presence at the raid raised questions about political interference and national security involvement.
• FBI Raids Election Office in Fulton County, Georgia — FBI agents executed a raid on an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, seizing 700 boxes of ballots and other election-related materials from the 2020 election. The warrant for the raid was issued by U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus, who was appointed by Trump and given special authority to operate across the nation. The involvement of the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, during the raid raised concerns about the politicization of law enforcement.

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• Trump falsely accused Minnesota of massive election fraud — Trump posted on social media falsely accusing Minnesota of massive fraud involving a made-up $19 billion figure. The accusation contradicted the fact that federal prosecutors under the Biden administration were actively pursuing fraud cases in Minnesota. Trump made these accusations on Saturday morning while inflation data worsened.

Supporting reports

• Tulsi Gabbard attended FBI raid of Fulton County elections office — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard attended an FBI raid of the Fulton County elections office. When Deputy AG Todd Blanche was asked by CNN whether this was appropriate, he defended the presence of a politically appointed official at an election-related law enforcement operation, drawing a comparison to classified documents cases.
• Tulsi Gabbard attends FBI raid on Fulton County elections office — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present during the FBI raid on Fulton County's elections office. Her presence at the operation raised questions about national security involvement and potential political interference in the investigation. Gabbard is conducting a separate review of the matter, independent from the FBI investigation. The Guardian reported that Trump called Gabbard and agents during the operation.
• Tulsi Gabbard launches parallel ODNI review of 2020 election, participates in FBI raid on Georgia election center — Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, is conducting her own review of the 2020 election with Trump's approval, separate from the DOJ criminal investigation. Trump directed her to observe an FBI raid on Fulton County, Georgia's election center on February 3, where agents seized ballots, voting machine data, and voter rolls. The ODNI review, authorized under election-integrity authority, has focused on voting machine vulnerabilities and alleged foreign interference. Georgia Democratic lawmakers have requested an inquiry into Gabbard's presence at the raid, questioning whether a legitimate foreign intelligence nexus exists.
• Trump offers contradictory accounts of Tulsi Gabbard's presence at FBI raid in Georgia — At the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, President Trump stated that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard attended an FBI raid of a Georgia election center at Attorney General Pam Bondi's urging to examine votes. This contradicted Trump's statement the previous day that he did not know why Gabbard was present, and diverged from Gabbard's own account to lawmakers that she attended at Trump's express direction. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed Trump's earlier remarks were taken out of context, but the shifting explanations intensified scrutiny of Gabbard's unusual role in a domestic law enforcement operation outside her formal authority.

Supporting reports

• FBI executes search warrant at Fulton County elections office, seizes ballots and voter data — FBI agents executed a criminal search warrant at the Fulton County elections office in Union City, Georgia, on January 28, 2026, seizing approximately 700 boxes of election materials including all ballots, tabulator tapes, electronic ballot images, and voter rolls. The raid was conducted at the behest of the Trump administration as part of efforts to relitigate the 2020 presidential election. Election integrity experts have confirmed the 2020 election was the most secure to date, and dozens of legal challenges to Trump's defeat have failed.
• FBI raid on Fulton County election office based on debunked election-denial claims — On 28 January 2026, the FBI raided the Fulton County election office in Georgia, seizing nearly 700 boxes of election materials. The search warrant affidavit, unsealed on 11 February, reveals the raid's rationale was based on debunked claims from election deniers and originated from a referral by Kurt Olsen, a White House lawyer who previously sought to overturn the 2020 election. Witnesses included conservative activists and Trump-aligned Georgia state election board members. Claims cited in the affidavit—regarding ballot image discrepancies, tabulator tape handling, and "pristine" ballots—had been previously investigated and debunked by state officials.
• FBI seized 2020 election records from Fulton County in January raid — On January 28, 2026, FBI agents executed a criminal search warrant at Fulton County's election offices in Georgia, seizing approximately 700 boxes of 2020 election documents. In a federal court hearing on March 27, Fulton County's lawyers argued the FBI's affidavit contained misrepresentations and relied on debunked claims from witnesses, some of whom had been sanctioned for lying or convicted of other crimes. The county contends the seizure was part of the Trump administration's campaign to delegitimize the 2020 election results and that the statute of limitations for any alleged crimes has expired.
• Trump directs national intelligence investigation into voting machines — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard launched an investigation into voting machines at Trump's direction. Simultaneously, the FBI conducted an unprecedented search of the Fulton County, Georgia election office in late January 2026, seizing ballots related to the 2020 election. The basis for the raid relied on recycled and debunked claims about the 2020 election. These actions are part of a broader administration effort to undermine confidence in election integrity ahead of November 2026 midterms.
• Tulsi Gabbard present at FBI search warrant execution at Fulton County elections office — On January 28, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the Fulton County elections hub in Union City, Georgia, seeking 2020 election records including ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, was present at the scene. An unnamed administration official cited election security and foreign interference concerns; Gabbard has not publicly explained her presence. Democratic lawmakers questioned whether her attendance violated protocols or represented a politicization of the intelligence community.
• FBI agents raided Fulton County, Georgia election office and seized 2020 election materials — FBI agents, operating under a warrant issued by U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus (appointed by Trump to the Eastern District of Missouri), raided an election office in Fulton County, Georgia and removed 700 boxes of ballots, tabulation tapes, and other election-related materials from the 2020 election. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present at the raid, met with some of the FBI agents, and connected Trump to the agents by phone, allowing Trump to speak directly to them during the operation.
• FBI raided Fulton County election office under Trump administration direction — On January 28, 2026, FBI agents executed a warrant to seize records from the Fulton County, Georgia election office related to the 2020 election. The warrant authorized seizure of physical ballots, voting machine tabulator tapes, voter rolls, and electronic data. Trump administration officials claimed the materials constituted evidence of crime. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's Director of National Intelligence, was on site despite the DNI having no domestic law enforcement role and being tasked with foreign intelligence.
• FBI executes search warrant at Fulton County election office for 2020 election records — The FBI executed a search warrant at the Fulton County, Georgia election office on January 29, 2026, seeking ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls from the 2020 election. County Commissioner Mo Ivory stated the initial warrant was "legally incorrect" and was challenged by county officials before the FBI obtained a corrected version. Democratic officials expressed concern that chain of custody protections were inadequate, fearing the Trump Administration could modify seized materials. The warrant was issued by interim U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus (Eastern District of Missouri) and suggests alleged criminal conduct involved retaining records and tabulating false ballots.
• FBI executes search warrant at Fulton County election office, seizing 2020 ballots and records — FBI agents executed a search warrant at the Fulton County, Georgia election office on Wednesday afternoon, seizing all 2020 election ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present during the raid. The action follows the Trump administration's nationwide push to obtain voter rolls and investigate alleged election fraud, despite courts dismissing three of nearly two dozen related DOJ lawsuits. Election officials and experts contend the raid has little legal basis and serves to undermine public confidence in election integrity ahead of the 2026 midterms.
• FBI executes search warrant at Fulton County elections warehouse — The Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at the elections warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia, to seize ballots from the 2020 presidential election, including all tabulator tapes and ballot images from the original ballot count. The seizure also included all voter rolls from Fulton County. The action breaks the chain of custody and contaminates the files. This action occurs as President Trump continues to assert that the 2020 election was stolen despite zero evidence, five years of debunked claims, and dismissal of dozens of court cases.
• FBI seizes 2020 election ballots from Fulton County, Georgia warehouse — The FBI executed a search warrant at the elections warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia, to seize ballots from the 2020 presidential election. This action is part of ongoing efforts by Trump and his allies to promote unfounded claims of voter fraud despite a lack of evidence.
• Georgia State Board of Elections subpoenas 2020 election records from Fulton County — The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized ballots from the 2020 presidential election stored in a warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia. The seizure occurred as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has been reassigned to investigate Trump's claims that the 2020 election was stolen, focusing on allegations of foreign government involvement.
• FBI raids Fulton County election office for 2020 materials — The Georgia State Board of Elections, which has a Trump-aligned majority, issued a subpoena for 2020 election records from Fulton County at the urging of Trump and election denialists. Fulton County initially sought to quash the subpoena in court. In December, a Fulton County superior court judge ruled in the state board's favor, ordering the county to turn over records. County officials estimated the cost of producing the documents at $376,800 and had scheduled a February 9 meeting to discuss the transfer process before the FBI raid occurred.
• DHS warns of prosecution for doxing ICE agents — FBI agents conducted a raid on the Fulton County election office to seize materials related to the 2020 presidential election. The action is characterized as part of the Trump Administration's broader effort to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election results and to support claims of election fraud.
• FBI Atlanta field office chief removed after questioning DOJ's 2020 election investigation — The Department of Homeland Security, through Secretary Kristi Noem, issued a public warning that it would prosecute individuals who identify ICE agents online to "the fullest extent of the law." The statement characterized those engaged in identifying agents as criminals "taking the side of vicious cartels and human traffickers." The warning was issued in response to antifa groups in Portland identifying ICE officers.
• Trump administration pursues nationwide voter roll seizures via DOJ lawsuits — Paul W Brown, special agent in charge of the FBI's Atlanta field office, was reportedly removed from his post after expressing concerns about unsubstantiated voter fraud allegations in Fulton County, Georgia, and refusing to carry out searches and seizures of election records. The removal occurred one week before the DOJ executed a search warrant seizing 700 boxes of 2020 election records from the county elections office. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard was present during the raid, prompting Democratic concern about partisan overreach.
• Attorney General Bondi linked voter roll demands to immigration enforcement — The Trump administration has launched a nationwide effort to obtain voter rolls containing sensitive information from nearly every U.S. state, including Georgia, through Department of Justice lawsuits. Experts report little legal basis for the move; three of nearly two dozen DOJ lawsuits have already been dismissed by courts. Election security experts characterize the effort as designed to fuel false claims of fraud and weaken confidence in election results, particularly ahead of the 2026 and 2028 election cycles.
• Tulsi Gabbard, DNI, appears at Fulton County election raid — Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter this week to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz linking the Department of Justice's voter roll data demands to the administration's immigration enforcement operations in the state. The letter connected federal voter registration record requests to recent immigration raids, a linkage that had already been cited in one active DOJ voter roll lawsuit.
• — Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, was spotted on site at the Fulton County election office during the FBI raid on Wednesday evening. Her presence prompted widespread outrage and questions about why an intelligence official was involved in a domestic election matter. The Wall Street Journal reported that Gabbard is leading the Trump administration's effort to investigate voter fraud nationwide, raising concerns about the politicization of the intelligence community.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Pam Bondi demands Minnesota surrender voter rolls, social program records, and policy changes — On January 24, 2026, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Tim Walz demanding that Minnesota turn over voter rolls for federal inspection, provide records on social programs including Medicaid and food assistance for federal investigation, and end policies preventing local coordination with immigration enforcement. State officials characterized the letter as a "ransom note" and an attempt at coercion and extortion designed to force compliance with federal immigration enforcement priorities.
• Attorney General Bondi tied voter roll access to federal violence in Minnesota — Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz suggesting he could "bring back law and order to Minnesota" if he handed over the state's voter rolls to the Department of Justice. Bondi explicitly tied the administration's violence in the state to its determination to obtain voters' personal data before the 2026 election. Minnesota has voted for the Democratic candidate in the past three presidential elections, but Trump insists he won the state each time.
• Pam Bondi demands Minnesota voter rolls, public assistance data, and sanctuary policy repeal — US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz demanding access to the state's voter rolls, public assistance recipient data, and repeal of sanctuary city policies. The demand was framed as part of immigration enforcement but included no evidence of non-citizen voter fraud in Minnesota. State election officials and legal experts characterized the request as coercive and pretextual, noting it violates state and federal law protecting voter privacy and has no connection to immigration enforcement.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota officials conditioning ICE's withdrawal on the state turning over its voter database to the Trump administration. — Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota officials stating that ICE would leave the state if Minnesota allowed the Civil Rights Division of DOJ to "access voter rolls to confirm that MN's voter registration practices comply with federal law." The letter framed this as a "common sense request" to "better guarantee free and fair elections and boost confidence in the rule of law." Senator Chris Murphy characterized this as evidence that "the Trump admin is creating this mayhem, particularly in cities in swing states, in order to take control of elections" and stated "They are trying to trade the presence of ICE and the murder and mayhem they are causing for control of Minnesota's elections."
• Attorney General Pam Bondi demands Minnesota enforce immigration law and produce welfare and voter roll data — US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Walz on January 26, 2026, accusing Minnesota officials of refusing to enforce the rule of law and demanding they support ICE operations. Bondi pressed Walz to produce information about the state's welfare programs and voter rolls, citing unsubstantiated federal claims that Democratic lawmakers allowed these systems to be manipulated or subject to welfare fraud. Bondi framed compliance as necessary to "bring back law and order to Minnesota."
• Attorney General Bondi requested voter rolls from Minnesota — Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Tim Walz on Saturday, shortly after Pretti's killing, suggesting that Walz could "restore the rule of law" in Minnesota by handing over the state's voter rolls. The request was framed as unrelated to voter files but appeared to be connected to Trump's claims that the election was rigged.
• Attorney General Bondi letter linking ICE surge to demands for voter data, welfare records, and sanctuary policy repeal — Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a letter explicitly conditioning the end of Operation Metro Surge on three unrelated demands: access to voter registration records, welfare program data, and repeal of sanctuary policies. Minnesota's lawyers characterize this as an extortion attempt and argue it demonstrates the Trump administration is using armed federal presence to coerce policy changes rather than conduct legitimate immigration enforcement, violating the 10th Amendment and constitutional structure.

Supporting reports

• Trump's social media account reposts debunked 2020 election fraud claims — Trump's social media account reposted long-debunked claims about the 2020 presidential election, including false assertions that there was voter fraud in Nevada, that Dominion Voting Machines flipped 435,000 votes from Trump to Biden, and that China rigged voting for Biden. The timing coincides with Special Counsel Jack Smith's scheduled public testimony on January 22 regarding Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

Supporting reports

• DOJ demands sensitive voter information from 43 states — The Trump Department of Justice is conducting an unprecedented effort to collect comprehensive voter information from at least 43 states, including last four digits of social security numbers, full dates of birth, and addresses. Eight states have voluntarily complied; the DOJ has sued 23 states and D.C. for refusing to provide the data, citing state privacy laws. The DOJ has not disclosed its intended use beyond general voter roll maintenance, but is sharing information with the Department of Homeland Security's immigration database. Critics argue the effort violates the National Voter Registration Act, the Privacy Act, and state law, and may be designed to sow doubt about election integrity.
• DOJ compiles database of voter registration and ballot-casting data; sues states that object — Trump's Department of Justice is building a centralized database containing sensitive voting records on every American citizen who has registered to vote or cast a ballot. States that have objected to the data collection have been sued by the DOJ to compel compliance. The effort represents an unprecedented federal assertion of control over state-administered voter data and election administration.
• Justice Department sued Virginia over voter roll production — The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division announced it filed a federal lawsuit against Virginia for failing to produce voter registration lists upon request. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated this brings the total number of states sued to 24, plus the District of Columbia. The department invoked the National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, and Civil Rights Act of 1960 as legal bases for demanding production and inspection of statewide voter registration lists.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration sues California cities over natural gas restrictions — The Trump administration's Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court (Northern District of California) against the San Francisco-area cities of Morgan Hill and Petaluma, seeking to block local ordinances restricting natural gas infrastructure and appliances in new construction. The complaint alleged the ordinances violated a 1975 federal law preventing states and cities from regulating the "energy use" of products subject to federal standards. The suit represents the administration's latest effort to challenge local climate policies.
• Justice Department sued Arizona and Connecticut for failure to produce voter registration lists — The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division announced federal lawsuits against Arizona and Connecticut for failing to produce complete voter registration lists upon request. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated this brings the total number of states sued to 23 plus the District of Columbia. The department cited authority under the National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, and Civil Rights Act of 1960 to demand production and inspection of statewide voter registration lists.
• Justice Department sued California cities over natural gas bans in new construction — The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of California against the cities of Morgan Hill and Petaluma, alleging their ordinances banning natural gas infrastructure and appliances in new construction violate federal law and preemption doctrine. The complaint seeks a declaration that the bans are preempted and a permanent injunction against their enforcement. Attorney General Pamela Bondi characterized the ordinances as "radical" and stated they harm consumers and American energy dominance.
• Trump administration demands voter lists from states; DOJ sues 22 states refusing compliance — The Trump administration has demanded that states surrender complete voter lists including sensitive personal information. The U.S. Justice Department is suing 22 states—many led by Democratic secretaries of state—that have refused to comply. The administration is reportedly attempting to build a national voter file and push states to more aggressively remove people from voter rolls. This action occurs amid heightened attention to secretary of state races in 2026, particularly in swing states critical to the 2028 presidential election.

Supporting reports

• Trump pressure campaign for mid-decade congressional redistricting — Trump initiated a White House pressure campaign to redraw congressional districts mid-decade to create Republican-friendly maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. Texas responded by drawing five additional Republican districts; California advanced a ballot measure for five Democratic districts in response. Federal courts blocked Texas's maps, and the Supreme Court will review the decision. Some Republican and Democratic state lawmakers have resisted the pressure, citing concerns about partisan gerrymandering, legal risks, and democratic norms. Trump threatened Indiana legislators with primary challenges if they did not support redistricting.
• Trump threatened Indiana state senators with primary challenges over redistricting — Trump posted on Truth Social on an unspecified date (referenced as "Tuesday" in the article) threatening Indiana state senators who did not support mid-decade redistricting. He stated he would ensure supporters won their primaries and achieve "Greatness," but warned that those who refused would face primary challenges from "MAGA Grassroots Republicans." Some Indiana legislators who opposed redistricting subsequently experienced swatting attacks.
• Trump pressured Indiana to redraw congressional map for partisan gain — Trump, with support from Indiana Governor Mike Braun, has vowed to back primary challengers against Republican state legislators blocking a redistricting plan designed to gain two GOP seats and help the party hold its House majority in the 2026 midterm elections. An unnamed Indiana legislator told The Atlantic he fears his house could be firebombed if he speaks out against the plan, illustrating the intimidation climate surrounding the redistricting effort.
• Indiana State Senator Michael Bohacek announced opposition to redistricting after Trump's ableist remarks — Indiana State Senator Michael Bohacek announced he will vote against the redistricting plan after Trump called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz a "retard" in a Thanksgiving post. Bohacek, who has advocated for people with intellectual disabilities since his daughter was born with Down Syndrome, stated that Trump's repeated use of derogatory language has consequences and will influence his vote.

Supporting reports

• Trump calls for release of Tina Peters on Truth Social — Trump posted on Truth Social calling for the release of Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk convicted of charges related to allowing a MyPillow-affiliated associate to access county election equipment after the 2020 election. Trump claimed Peters is imprisoned "FOR ATTEMPTING TO EXPOSE VOTER FRAUD," mischaracterizing her conviction.