President Donald Trump has once again put mail-in ballots in his crosshairs, signaling he plans to crack down on the voting method through an executive order.
This shift marks another dramatic turn in his evolving stance on absentee voting, which has fluctuated significantly over the years.
From Pandemic Push to Criticism
Back in 2020, during the pandemic, the expansion of mail-in voting was meant to make elections safer and more accessible.
Trump, however, rejected this approach, claiming it led to widespread fraud and blaming it for his loss to Joe Biden.
Ironically, during his victorious 2024 campaign, he encouraged his supporters to vote by mail, highlighting the inconsistent nature of his messaging.
A New Crusade on Truth Social
On Monday, Trump took to Truth Social to renew his attacks on mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
He declared he will lead a “movement to get rid of mail-in ballots” and promised to overhaul voting machines that he alleges were used by Democrats to tilt the 2020 election in Biden’s favor.
While no official timeline for the executive order has been set, it is expected to surface before Republicans aim to defend their majorities in Congress.
Controversy in Michigan
Adding fuel to his claims, video footage recently emerged from Michigan showing a local lawmaker and an accomplice dropping what appeared to be bundles of ballots into a drop box ahead of local elections.
The Michigan State Police confirmed the video was authentic.
Over the weekend, Abu Musa, a city council member of Hamtramck, was seen delivering absentee ballots to a driver who then deposited them in the box.
Musa subsequently won the election with over 1,129 votes.
Trump Doubles Down at the White House
Trump reiterated his stance during a White House event with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He emphasized, “We’ve got to stop mail-in voting and Republicans have to lead the charge,” claiming Democrats favor the method due to their “horrible policy.”
He argued that restricting mail-in voting is even more crucial than redistricting for the Republican Party’s electoral success.
Misleading Claims About Global Practices
Trump also claimed that the U.S. is “the only country in the world that uses mail-in voting,” alleging other nations abandoned it due to rampant fraud.
However, this is misleading: countries like Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, and Spain all use mail-in ballots, either without restriction or under limited conditions.
Despite promoting mail-in voting in 2024, Trump now frames it as a Democratic “hoax” designed to manipulate elections.
Repeating the Fraud Narrative
On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Democrats are virtually unelectable without using this completely disproven mail-in scam,” adding that mail-in voting makes honest elections impossible.
While investigations into the 2020 election found no evidence of widespread fraud, some minor issues have arisen, including reports of deceased individuals receiving ballots.
What Lies Ahead?
With the 2026 midterms approaching, Trump’s renewed push against mail-in voting is likely to shape Republican messaging and strategy.
Whether this movement will translate into legislative or executive action remains to be seen, but it underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding voting methods and election integrity in the U.S.
