WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is once again stirring controversy.
In a podcast interview released Monday, Trump said Republicans should “nationalize” and “take over” voting in at least 15 places across the United States — though he did not name which ones.
The remarks revive his long-running and false claims that U.S. elections are plagued by widespread fraud.
“We Should Take Over the Voting”
Speaking on “The Dan Bongino Show,” Trump claimed — without evidence — that immigrants were brought into the country to vote illegally.
“These people were brought to our country to vote,” Trump said.
“And they vote illegally.”
He then criticized Republicans for not being aggressive enough.
“The Republicans should say, we want to take over,” he added.
“We should take over the voting… in at least many, 15 places.”
Trump offered no details on how such a move would work, or where it would happen.
Claims Rejected Before — and Again
Trump has repeatedly insisted that his 2020 election loss was the result of fraud — a claim that has been rejected by courts, state officials, and even members of his own former administration.
Still, he continued.
“We have states that are so crooked,” Trump said.
“They’re counting votes. We have states that I won that show I didn’t win.”
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.
FBI Search Adds Fuel to the Fire
Trump’s comments come just days after the FBI searched an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, looking for records tied to the 2020 election.
According to reports, Trump later spoke by phone with some of the FBI agents involved — a move that breaks from long-standing law enforcement norms.
The investigation has added new tension to an already heated national debate over elections and trust in democratic institutions.
High Stakes Ahead
The comments arrive as the U.S. heads toward midterm elections in November, which will decide control of Congress for the next two years.
Under the U.S. Constitution, elections are run by states and local governments, not the federal government — a key point that stands in contrast to Trump’s call to “nationalize” voting.
As the election season heats up, so does the rhetoric.
And once again, the future of American elections is at the center of a fierce political storm.
