Trump Calls To Nationalize Voting; GOP Split

President Donald Trump urged Republicans to "take over the voting" in "at least many — 15 places" during an interview with Dan Bongino, according to his remarks on the podcast.

The call follows an FBI raid on the Fulton County election office that seized ballots and materials, records show, and comes amid GOP proposals such as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to expand federal oversight.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a press briefing that the president was referring to support for the SAVE Act, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he opposed federalizing elections, according to their public statements.

The Justice Department has filed lawsuits seeking voter registration rolls from at least 24 states, court filings show, prompting warnings from state election officials including Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.

Legal scholars Justin Levitt and Nicholas Stephanopoulos said Congress lacks clear authority to unilaterally nationalize state-run elections, while allies such as Cleta Mitchell have suggested emergency powers could be invoked, marking a contested legal debate.