Trump Urges Republicans to Vote by Mail Despite Past Attacks - Newsweek

President Donald Trump is encouraging Republicans to vote by mail in next month's midterm elections, marking a notable shift from years of attacks on the practice as vulnerable to fraud.

In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump urged Republicans to use every available voting method to boost turnout ahead of the November 3 election.

"Republicans must WIN the 2026 Midterm Elections, and we must use every appropriate tool," Trump wrote. "Whether you vote early, absentee, by mail, or in-person, we must 'swamp' the Radical Left Dumocrats with massive turnout!"

The president also promoted a Republican voter outreach effort, directing supporters to the "Swamp the Vote" website for information on how and where to cast ballots.

The message represents a sharp contrast with Trump's longstanding criticism of mail-in voting, which he has repeatedly described as insecure and susceptible to fraud despite regularly casting his own ballot by mail in Florida.

In a video posted alongside Saturday's message, Trump encouraged supporters to take advantage of multiple voting options.

"The 2026 midterm elections are upon us, and I'm asking every patriot to get out and vote," the president said. "Vote early, vote by mail, or vote in person on Election Day."

Trump's embrace of mail voting comes just weeks after he criticized the Supreme Court for striking down his administration's efforts to restrict the practice.

Following that ruling, Trump blasted what he called "totally CORRUPT and out of control Mail-In voting," describing it as a "Nation Destroying SCAM" in a social media post.

In July, Trump said that "mail-in ballots are inherently corrupt." There is no evidence of widespread fraud in mail voting, according to election officials and numerous court reviews conducted since the 2020 election.

The White House did not immediately respond to a Newsweek request for comment asking how Trump's endorsement of voting by mail squared with his years of criticism of the practice.

Trump has frequently argued that mail ballots create opportunities for cheating, while simultaneously using the method himself. Earlier this year, he acknowledged mailing his ballot in a Florida special election and later voted by mail again in the state's August primary.

Trump's latest appeal comes with Republicans facing a challenging political environment less than five weeks before Election Day.

Recent polls have shown Democrats gaining momentum in several competitive races. At the same time, voter concerns about inflation and economic pressures linked to the Iran war have weighed on the president's approval ratings.

Some Republican strategists have long worried that Trump's attacks on mail voting and early voting could discourage GOP voters from taking advantage of methods that have become increasingly common across the country.

According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, roughly one-third of ballots cast in the 2024 presidential election were submitted by mail.

Trump's efforts to restrict mail voting have largely run into legal and political obstacles. In March, he signed an executive order that would have imposed new restrictions on mail ballots. The Supreme Court struck down the policy in September, and congressional efforts backed by the administration also failed to advance.

Richard Pildes, an election law expert at New York University, told The New York Times that Trump's latest comments appeared to reflect a recognition that efforts to roll back mail voting had failed.

"He's realizing that his efforts to change policy on mail-in voting have basically run aground at this point, and he's shifting gears," Pildes told the newspaper on Saturday.

Early voting and mail voting are already underway in several states, including battlegrounds that could help determine control of Congress as the GOP defends its slim majority in both chambers.

A Democratic sweep would give the party control of congressional committees, legislative scheduling and oversight of the administration. Control of the Senate would also give Democrats power over the confirmation process for presidential nominees.

The president's new message aligns with a broader Republican effort to encourage supporters to vote before Election Day rather than waiting until November 3.

Whether the shift signals a lasting change in Trump's view of mail voting remains unclear.

Doug Heye, a Republican strategist, told the Times on Saturday it was too early to know whether Trump would continue promoting mail voting or return to his previous criticisms of the practice.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martynhere. Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Steve Mollman and Anthony Murray.