President Trump says he’ll sign executive order in bid to end mail-in ballots, voting machines; Oregon officials react strongly

WASHINGTON (NBC News) -- President Trump said Monday in a post to Truth Social that he would sign an executive order to try to get rid of mail-in ballots and voting machines, a move that would almost certainly face immediate challenges in court.

The president said in the post that he was “going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS” and voting machines.

“WE WILL BEGIN THIS EFFORT, WHICH WILL BE STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections,” Trump wrote. However, there is no evidence of widespread voting fraud. 

The president also claimed that states are “merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes.”

“They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do,” he wrote.

The Constitution, though, gives states — not the federal government — the power to handle congressional elections. 

For years, Trump has spread false claims of widespread voter fraud. He has repeatedly falsely claimed that he won the 2020 election. 

Later Monday, Trump doubled down when asked about his social media posts calling for an end to mail-in voting, labeling the practice "corrupt."

"We're going to end mail-in voting. It's a fraud," he told reporters.

“It’s time the Republicans get tough and stop it, because the Democrats want it. It’s the only way they can get elected,” Trump said.

There is no evidence of widespread fraud with mail-in voting. Trump's comments have received condemnation from state Democratic officials as well as Democrats in Congress, including Sen. Chuck Schumer.

“Let’s be clear — this is not based in fact or reality, but it is yet another way for Trump to silence Americans from using their voice in the democratic process and implement Jim Crow laws across America,” Schumer said in a statement.

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., had this reaction in a post on X:

"Now Donald Trump is taking advice from Vladimir Putin on how to conduct elections?  How about Trump ask voters here in Oregon and other states with vote-by-mail how it’s long been proven as a secure, effective & easy way for Americans to vote from home?"

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read gave this statement to KTVZ News in response to the president's latest comments and plans:

“President Trump is actively working to corrupt our elections. If he actually understood or cared about the American people, he’d know mail-in-voting is the best way to protect everyone’s right to vote, especially rural folks, elderly people, and hourly workers. Mail-in-voting meets citizens exactly where they are: in their living rooms and around their kitchen tables.

“In Oregon, we follow the Constitution, and we respect every citizen’s right to hold politicians accountable – that’s why Republicans and Democrats in our state pioneered secure, accurate, and honest vote-by-mail elections.

“If the President wants to do something useful, he should focus on inflation, instead of forcing people to lose hours at work to vote.”