US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to bypass Congress and impose new nationwide voting laws ahead of the November midterm elections, where his Republican Party faces the risk of losing control of the legislature.
Trump said he would issue an executive order if lawmakers fail to pass legislation requiring photo identification to vote and other election reforms.
“There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“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,” he added.
The Trump-backed “SAVE America” election reform act passed in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives this week. However, it is expected to face difficulties in the Senate, where Republicans hold only a slim majority and would likely need Democratic support to secure passage.
The proposed legislation would require voters to present photo identification and provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote.
Any attempt by Trump to impose national voting requirements through executive action would likely trigger immediate legal challenges, potentially reaching the US Supreme Court.
Under the US Constitution, states retain broad authority over the administration of elections. Legal experts have questioned whether a president can mandate nationwide voter ID requirements without congressional approval.
While many US states already require photo identification at polling stations, others do not. Trump and several Republicans have long argued without presenting verified evidence of widespread fraud that stricter voter identification laws are necessary to protect election integrity.
However, multiple studies and official reviews have found no evidence of significant voter fraud in recent US elections.
Critics argue that the proposed reforms could disenfranchise millions of Americans who lack passports or official birth certificates.
An analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice found that more than 21 million Americans lack easy access to such documentation, warning the measures could disproportionately affect young voters and minority communities.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that US elections require stronger safeguards, reiterating long-debunked allegations of mass fraud following his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.
Polls suggest Republicans face a competitive midterm landscape, particularly in the House of Representatives. A Democratic victory could significantly hinder Trump’s legislative agenda and potentially revive impeachment efforts.
