Story perspectives

Slotkin Presses Pentagon to Stay Out of Polling Places

8/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Elissa Slotkin asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Aug. 18, 2026 to confirm Pentagon will not send troops to polling places for November midterms.
Slotkin said President Donald Trump is “laying the breadcrumbs” to claim the midterms were stolen, citing his 2020 voting-machine seizure remarks.
The Pentagon replied by email it will answer Slotkin (Gen. Mark Milley wrote in 2020 the military must stay apolitical and courts or Congress resolve election disputes).

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Story summary

Elissa Slotkin asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Aug. 18, 2026 to confirm Pentagon will not send troops to polling places for November midterms.
Slotkin said President Donald Trump is “laying the breadcrumbs” to claim the midterms were stolen, citing his 2020 voting-machine seizure remarks.
The Pentagon replied by email it will answer Slotkin (Gen. Mark Milley wrote in 2020 the military must stay apolitical and courts or Congress resolve election disputes).