Trump Threatens Executive Action to Impose Election Reforms Ahead of Midterms

U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled his intention to bypass Congress and push new nationwide voting rules if lawmakers fail to pass legislation ahead of the November midterm elections, amid Republican fears of losing control of the legislature.

Trump stated that he would issue an executive order to enforce voter identification and other election reforms if Congress does not act. “There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!” he wrote on his Truth Social account. “If we can’t get it through Congress, there are legal reasons why this SCAM is not permitted. I will be presenting them shortly, in the form of an Executive Order.”

While many US states already require photo identification to vote, others do not. Trump and many Republicans claim, without evidence, that the absence of such requirements has allowed widespread voter fraud.

This week, the Trump-backed “SAVE America” election reform bill passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. The legislation would mandate photo ID for voting and proof of citizenship to register. However, it faces almost certain defeat in the Senate, where the Republican majority is too narrow to advance the bill without Democratic support.

Critics argue that these measures could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly young people and ethnic minorities, who may lack a passport or birth certificate. A Brennan Center analysis found that more than 21 million Americans do not have easy access to such documents.

The push also raises constitutional questions. Under the US Constitution, states hold primary authority over election administration, and it remains unclear how the president could legally impose a federal voter ID mandate.

Trump’s threat to act unilaterally comes amid continued claims of election fraud—claims widely debunked by courts, election officials, and independent investigations.

These allegations previously underpinned his unsuccessful efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Polls indicate that Republicans face a serious risk of losing their narrow House majority in the upcoming midterms. A Democratic takeover would likely block Trump’s legislative agenda and could increase the prospect of congressional investigations or impeachment proceedings.