Full Breakdown
Election Deniers Urge Trump to Consider Martial Law Around Midterm Vote
By Drooid · · How we work
Push for Martial Law Ahead of the Midterms
Attorney Peter Ticktin, a longtime associate of former President Donald Trump, told a gathering of election-skeptic supporters in Las Vegas that Trump faces three possible paths this fall: a “smooth” election (which Ticktin says will not happen), pre-emptive action to stop alleged cheating, or a declaration of martial law on or around November 3. He framed the latter as a response to a “nightmare scenario” in which electronic voting equipment allegedly diverts votes to Democrats, potentially leading to impeachment and removal of Trump and Vice President Mike Vance. Ticktin warned, “There’s not another soul on this planet that understands what it is to be the president of the United States and have to leave office for a rigged election so someone else can step in and steal the country.”
Wayne Allyn Root, a right-wing media host, echoed the call for a national-security emergency that would, in his view, prevent a stolen election. He told the audience that a declaration before November 3 would guarantee victory.
Background & Context
Ticktin’s advocacy builds on a history of legal challenges aligned with Trump, including a 2022 lawsuit against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and recent efforts to secure a pardon for former Colorado clerk Tina Peters, who was convicted of tampering with election equipment. Earlier this year, Trump suggested that Republicans should “nationalize voting” in at least fifteen jurisdictions and entertained Root’s proposal to declare a “national-security emergency” requiring proof of citizenship and voter ID.
The “Storm Summit” in Las Vegas, organized by supporters such as Ticktin, Peters and Root, promoted “honest elections” and warned that the midterm could be canceled, suspended, or left in limbo. Attendees displayed slogans implying the 2020 contest was unfinished.
Official Statements & Responses
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine said there are no plans to forcibly assume control of state election administrators or deploy federal officials to polling places. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin echoed this, noting that exceptions might exist only in response to “specific threats.”
Criticism & Opposition
Legal analysts point out that a national-security emergency grants the president limited statutory powers and does not extend authority over elections. Republican leaders in Congress have resisted the SAVE America Act, legislation championed by Trump that would tighten mail-in voting rules and add voter-ID requirements. Internal Republican polling suggested the bill could energize Democratic voters while suppressing Republican turnout in mail-heavy states.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree no formal plan to declare martial law or a national-security emergency has been approved. Details of private lobbying by election deniers and internal White House discussions remain unclear, as officials declined to provide briefings.
What’s Next
A declaration remains speculative. No official timeline has been set for emergency action, and the administration emphasizes adherence to existing legal processes. The midterm election will proceed under current state-run voting procedures, with ongoing monitoring by federal agencies.