WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump suggested in recent interviews that the United States could consider canceling the 2026 midterm elections, citing historical patterns of incumbent party losses and warning of personal political consequences if Republicans lose control of Congress.
“It’s some deep psychological thing, but when you win the presidency, you don’t win the midterms,” Trump, 79, told Reuters in an Oval Office interview this week. “When you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election.”
The remarks represent the most direct statement yet from a sitting president questioning the necessity of constitutionally mandated elections. Trump’s comments come as polling shows Republicans facing headwinds in November’s congressional races, with the party holding only a slim majority in the House of Representatives.
President Warns of Impeachment Risk
In a private briefing with House Republicans, Trump framed the midterm elections as essential to his political survival. “You gotta win the midterms… Because if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be—I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me. I’ll get impeached,” the president said, according to Reuters sources familiar with the meeting.
Trump expanded on his reasoning in a Fox News interview, pointing to historical precedent. “If you go back a long way, the sitting president—whether it’s Democrat or Republican—always loses the midterm, even if they’ve done well. Almost always,” he said. “I think we’ve done a great job. We’ve done maybe the best job ever in the first year, but they always seem to lose the midterm.”
Economic Concerns Dominate Voter Priorities
The president’s political concerns come amid voter dissatisfaction with economic conditions. Recent surveys show Americans cite inflation, rising housing costs, and economic uncertainty as top concerns heading into the midterm cycle. Trump’s approval ratings have declined in recent months, particularly on economic issues.
When questioned about these pocketbook concerns during the Reuters interview, Trump said he needs to better communicate his record. “I simply need to do a better job of promoting my accomplishments,” the president said, referencing a binder of policy achievements.
Democrats Prepare for Election Disputes
Democratic Party officials are already preparing legal and logistical responses to potential election interference or disputes, according to AP News. Political strategists in both parties say Trump’s public musings about suspending elections—regardless of their likelihood—create uncertainty that could affect voter turnout and public confidence in the electoral process.
Constitutional scholars note that federal law mandates congressional elections every two years, and no president has unilateral authority to suspend or postpone them. The Constitution grants states primary authority over election administration, with Congress holding the power to regulate the time, place, and manner of federal elections.
Republicans Hold Narrow House Majority
Republicans currently control the House of Representatives by a margin of just a few seats, making the chamber highly competitive in November’s elections. Historical data supports Trump’s observation that the president’s party typically loses congressional seats in midterm elections, though the magnitude varies based on economic conditions, presidential approval, and other factors.
Trump’s remarks have drawn criticism from constitutional law experts and some members of Congress, who say any suggestion of canceling elections undermines democratic norms. However, the president’s allies have largely remained silent on his comments or characterized them as observations about political patterns rather than serious policy proposals.
With the midterm elections nine months away, Trump’s comments have intensified an already heated political environment and raised questions about how the administration and Congress will approach the November vote.
