Trump says Republicans should 'nationalize' elections, take control from states
WASHINGTON ‒ President Donald Trump said Republicans should "nationalize" the voting process as he continues to level unfounded claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, more than five years after losing to Joe Biden .
Trump called for Republicans at the federal level to seize control of elections from states during an appearance on the podcast of Dan Bongino , who returned to his show on Feb. 2 after resigning in January as FBI deputy director in the Trump administration.
"The Republicans should say, 'We want to take over. We should take over the voting in at least ‒ many, 15 places.'" Trump said. "The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. We have states that are so crooked."
More: FBI searches Georgia election center over 2020 vote
The Constitution gives authority to states ‒ not the federal government ‒ to set "the times, places and manner" of holding federal elections , but it empowers Congress to "make or alter" rules.
Trump's comments came after the FBI on Jan. 28 executed a search warrant at a Fulton County elections center near Atlanta as part of a probe related to the 2020 presidential election. Georgia is among the states won by Biden that Trump has falsely said were stolen from him.
"We have states that I won that Joe didn't win," Trump said. "Now, you're going to see something in Georgia, where they were able to get the court order, the ballots. You're going to see some interesting things come out."
More: Fulton County to challenge Trump admin's seizure of ballots in court
Trump spoke directly to some of the FBI agents who executed the search a day after it was conducted, the New York Times reported, citing three people with knowledge of the discussions. Trump was connected by phone with the FBI agents by Tulsi Gabbard , the director of national intelligence, as she visited the bureau's office in person, the Times reported.
Trump's call for Republicans to federalize elections came as he accused Democrats of bringing migrants into the United States to illegally vote ‒ a frequent attack among Trump and his supporters that is not backed by evidence. Only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in federal and state elections.
"These people were brought to our country to vote, and they vote illegally," Trump said. "It's amazing that the Republicans aren't tougher about it."
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says Republicans should 'nationalize' elections
