Donald Trump ramps up election fraud claims and pushes SAVE Act ahead of 2026 midterms

President Donald Trump has intensified assertions that the U.S. election system is compromised, claiming foreign interference—particularly by China—and alleging millions of non‑citizen registrations. He presented declassified documents suggesting Chinese access to voter files, including data on military personnel, and urged Congress to pass the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration and tighten mail‑in voting rules.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin echoed Trump’s stance, warning states that failure to participate in federally‑mandated election‑security programs could result in fines, penalties or even criminal prosecution. Mullin cited an alleged 250,000 non‑citizen voters in several states and announced an updated election‑infrastructure plan from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Legal experts and courts have repeatedly blocked similar federal directives over privacy and constitutional concerns, labeling the threats as unenforceable. Governors and secretaries in California, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have defended their election processes, noting that non‑citizen voting is exceedingly rare. Analysts warn the rhetoric may undermine public confidence ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.