Trump Weaponizes Federal Power to Interfere in 2026 Midterms

Nine months before the 2026 midterm elections, Donald Trump is escalating his campaign to subvert them—but this time, he's wielding the full power of the federal government. What we're witnessing isn't just political pressure. It's the systematic abuse of federal agencies for personal political gain.

When Federal Agencies Become Political Tools

The past two weeks have delivered a series of unprecedented developments that should alarm anyone who values democratic norms. The FBI conducted a search at the Fulton County election center in Atlanta, seizing ballots, tabulator tapes, and voter rolls from the 2020 election—all in service of debunked fraud theories.

But here's what makes this truly disturbing: Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence who has no role in FBI operations or domestic election oversight, was present during the search. The following day, she arranged for FBI officers to speak with Trump via speakerphone—a stunning departure from normal practice that screams inappropriate political pressure.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent an extortion letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, demanding the state's voter rolls or face continued "violent crackdown" in Minneapolis. Since May 2025, the DOJ has demanded voter rolls from 44 states and Washington D.C.—despite having no statutory right to them.

"Republicans Should Nationalize Voting"

Trump's rhetoric has become increasingly authoritarian. Speaking with podcaster Dan Bongino, he called for Republicans to "take over the voting in at least 15 places" and suggested they should "nationalize" elections. This isn't just inflammatory talk—it's a direct challenge to constitutional federalism.

"These people were brought to our country to vote, and they vote illegally," Trump claimed, recycling a false narrative. Voting by noncitizens is rare and doesn't swing elections, but facts have never constrained Trump's election fantasies.

His promise that "you're gonna see something in Georgia" reveals the predetermined nature of these investigations. Trump has already decided the conclusion; now he's using federal resources to manufacture the evidence.

The Unprecedented Nature of This Interference

What makes 2026 different from Trump's previous election interference attempts? Three key factors: timing, organization, and the weaponization of federal power.

Unlike his post-2020 scramble to overturn results, Trump is laying groundwork nine months in advance. He's not relying on phone calls to state officials or legal challenges—he's deploying the FBI, DOJ, and other federal agencies as political instruments.

Bob Bauer, a veteran Democratic election lawyer, warns that the administration may view ICE deployment as creating "essentially an army" for election security through immigration enforcement. The line between immigration policy and election interference is deliberately blurred.

Glimmers of Hope Amid the Chaos

Yet several factors may limit Trump's success. First, he's already setting expectations for poor Republican performance—possibly preparing for defeat. Second, his attempts to force GOP gerrymanders have largely been neutralized by Democratic countermoves.

Most importantly, Trump's own actions are undermining his political standing. Americans' growing disapproval of his immigration and economic policies has boosted Democrats in generic congressional polling. As one election official's prayer goes: "Lord, let this election not be close." Trump's overreach may be answering that prayer.