Trump says he will not rule out invoking Insurrection Act before midterms
In a September interview, President Donald Trump said he has not ruled out using the Insurrection Act or declaring a national emergency around the upcoming midterm elections.
President Donald Trump told Time Magazine on Sept. 28 that he has not ruled out any emergency measures, including the 1807 Insurrection Act, which permits the president to deploy military forces during civil unrest. "I don’t rule anything out or in. We’ll see," he said, adding that he has never used the law but could consider it.
Trump also said he has not decided whether to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to polling places, though he did not dismiss the possibility. The comments come as Republicans trail in several key Senate and House races.
Democratic leaders have sought assurances that federal troops will not be deployed to the polls. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine responded in a letter stating there are "no plans to send Federal military personnel or Federalized members of the National Guard to polling places during the 2026 elections" and no intent to seize ballots or voting equipment.
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon previously suggested that ICE could be used to surround polling sites in November, a claim that has been cited by critics.
Trump has previously declined to rule out a national emergency declaration, and his campaign has continued to allege widespread voter fraud despite a lack of evidence. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of attempting to influence the election outcome, while some GOP candidates have begun to distance themselves from the former president.