Mike Johnson Rejects Trump’s ‘Take Over Elections’ Push, Calls It Frustration
Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday distanced himself from President Donald Trump’s explosive suggestion that Republicans should “take over” and “nationalize” voting in parts of the country, saying Trump was merely expressing frustration with state election systems.
The exchange, captured by CNN’s Manu Raju, came after Trump’s comments on a conservative podcast in which he urged Republicans to “take over the voting” in at least 15 unspecified places and “nationalize” elections — repeating his unproven claims of widespread fraud.
At the Capitol, reporters pressed Johnson on whether Trump’s call was something he supported. Johnson characterized the remarks as frustration about perceived election problems in “blue states” but pushed back on the idea of a federal takeover.
When challenged directly about a takeover, Johnson said plainly: “No, no.”
Johnson linked the broader election debate to GOP efforts to pursue legislation on election integrity, such as requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship, rather than federalizing election administration.
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“The president is expressing his frustration with the problems we have in some of these blue states…” Johnson told reporters when asked about the nationalize comment.
Experts note the U.S. Constitution gives states authority over election administration, so an actual federal takeover would face major legal hurdles.
Johnson’s comments come as Republicans debate how to address Trump’s rhetoric on election control while advancing election-related legislation in Congress.
What happens next: Republicans are expected to continue pushing election integrity bills in the coming weeks, with Johnson’s position likely shaping the House GOP’s response to Trump’s rhetoric.
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