Trump Pressures GOP on Voter ID Amid Election Claims/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump renewed claims that U.S. elections are rigged while urging Republicans to act on sweeping voting changes. Trump outlined demands including voter ID requirements, proof of citizenship and limits on mail-in voting. Democrats and voting-rights advocates warn the proposals could disenfranchise millions of voters.
Trump Election Demands: Quick Looks
- Trump labels U.S. elections “rigged” and a global embarrassment
- Calls on Republicans to “fight” for voting restrictions
- Pushes SAVE Act requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship
- Seeks major limits on mail-in ballots
- Republicans plan strategy talks on legislation
- Voting-rights groups warn of mass disenfranchisement
Deep Look: Trump Pressures GOP on Voter ID Amid Election Claims
President Donald Trump escalated his long-running attacks on U.S. election systems Thursday, unleashing a late-night social media rant in which he demanded Republican lawmakers push aggressive voting restrictions or risk, he said, losing the country.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump declared that “America’s elections are rigged, stolen, and a laughingstock all over the world,” adding that the nation must “fix them” or face existential consequences. The posts were part of a broader surge of activity in which Trump amplified right-wing content tied to false claims about the 2020 election.
Trump used the posts to promote what he called a three-part “SAVE AMERICA ACT,” centered on requiring voters to show government-issued identification, mandating proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote, and effectively ending mail-in voting except in limited circumstances such as illness, disability, military service or travel.
The demands echo provisions of the SAVE Act — formally known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act — which passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate amid public backlash and opposition from Democrats.
Trump signaled that he plans to personally pressure Republicans to revive the effort. Reports indicate he is expected to meet with GOP senators including Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, and Rick Scott to discuss next steps.
Voting-rights advocates strongly dispute Trump’s claims of widespread fraud. Research from the Brennan Center for Justice estimates that roughly 21 million Americans lack easy access to the identification documents required under proposals like the SAVE Act. The group notes that about half of U.S. adults do not have a passport and millions lack paper copies of their birth certificates.
The Brennan Center warned that voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements would disproportionately affect younger voters, voters of color and women whose married names differ from their birth documents. “The SAVE Act, in any form, would block millions of American citizens from voting,” the organization said.
Trump has also suggested more extreme measures. Earlier this week, he said Republicans should consider “taking over the voting” process in at least 15 states, comments he later discussed on a podcast hosted by former FBI official Dan Bongino.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to clarify Trump’s remarks during a briefing, saying the president supports the Constitution but believes elections have been marred by fraud and irregularities. Her explanation, particularly her use of the word “however,” sparked online criticism and confusion.
Democrats quickly seized on the comments. Rep. Jim McGovern highlighted the remarks as evidence that Trump’s rhetoric conflicts with his oath to uphold the Constitution.
Trump has continued to single out major U.S. cities as examples of alleged corruption. In a recent television interview, he cited Detroit, Philadelphia and Atlanta as places with “very corrupt elections,” without offering evidence.
“They don’t want voter ID because they want to cheat,” Trump said, repeating claims that election officials and Democratic leaders have consistently rejected.
As Republicans weigh how closely to align with Trump’s latest demands, the renewed push underscores how election integrity — and Trump’s false claims of widespread fraud — remain central to his political agenda heading into another election cycle.
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