Trump's Bending the Law to Rig the Elections in His Favor

July 28, 2026

He Found a Judge to Allow His Voting Coup to Move Forward

Source: The New Republic and agencies

In a significant setback for voters, a recent ruling by a federal appeals court paves the way for President Donald Trump to advance his agenda aimed at restricting mail-in voting. With the midterm elections just around the corner, this development raises serious concerns about election integrity.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld a lower court's decision on Tuesday, asserting that a Democratic lawsuit challenging Trump's executive order on mail-in voting was premature. This ruling could have dire consequences for the upcoming elections, as Trump's order mandates the creation of a national citizenship registry by the Department of Homeland Security. Additionally, it instructs the U.S. Postal Service to deny mail-in ballots in states that do not comply with federal voter registration data sharing.

During the signing of his executive order in March, Trump claimed, “Cheating on mail-in voting is legendary.” He alleged that Democrats were exploiting mail-in ballots to manipulate election outcomes. Ironically, Trump has himself voted by mail in previous elections, but he justifies this practice, stating, “because I’m president.”

This ruling from the D.C. Circuit comes shortly after Trump's Department of Justice appealed to the Supreme Court, dismissing the Democrats' legal challenge as “premature” and “hypothetical,” since the executive order hasn't been fully integrated into official policy yet.

The court echoed the administration's position, arguing that the plaintiffs were concerned only with potential future violations, rather than addressing any illegal actions that have already occurred. The implication is clear: while Trump’s executive order may indeed infringe upon federal law, the court is reluctant to intervene until it may be too late to take corrective action.

Moreover, Trump’s push to limit mail-in voting complements his support of the SAVE Act, a sweeping voter suppression bill currently being fast-tracked through the Senate. These aggressive tactics signal a desperate attempt to manipulate the electoral landscape in his favor, particularly as Republicans face a challenging midterm election ahead because of him. But while he appears to be aware that achieving victory might require bending the rules, the opposition begs to differ. 

Political Reaction

NY State Attorney General Letitia James

We will not hesitate to defend New York’s election laws. We have beaten attempts to stop mail-in voting before, and we will do it again. 

Rep. Joe Morelle

Donald Trump knows his policies are unpopular. This is yet another attempt to hide from the American people. We will protect mail-in voting—a safe, secure method of casting ballots that Americans have trusted for decades. 

Senator Jay Costa

President Trump is doubling down on taking away millions of Americans’ right to vote. This is shameful and unconscionable. Voting by mail in PA is a fair, free, safe, and secure way for many voters to make their voices heard. 

Senator Chris Van Hollen

Yet another part of Trump's effort to rig the elections. This is a blatantly illegal federal intrusion into state voting rules. It should be emphatically rejected.