Pennsylvania election officials are pushing back after President Donald Trump suggested the federal government should take a larger role in running elections, again citing Philadelphia as he revived false claims of voter fraud.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday in the Oval Office, Trump singled out Philadelphia, Detroit and Atlanta as places where he said federal authorities should intervene in election administration. He offered no evidence of corruption or fraud, but argued that national involvement was necessary.
Trump has repeatedly targeted Philadelphia since his unsuccessful effort to overturn his 2020 election loss, despite no proof that the city’s elections were anything other than free and fair.
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt rejected Trump’s assertions on Wednesday, emphasizing that the Constitution gives states primary authority over elections. Schmidt said Pennsylvania’s elections have never been more secure and praised the work of local officials across the state’s 67 counties.
Schmidt, who served as Philadelphia’s Republican city commissioner during the 2020 election, said election workers from all political backgrounds continue to ensure elections remain free, fair, and safe.
Trump has floated the idea of taking control of elections in as many as 15 states, though his administration has not specified which ones. Experts and state officials say the president lacks the unilateral power to “nationalize” elections.
Election attorney Marian Schneider, who previously served as Pennsylvania’s deputy secretary of elections, said the president has no authority to order changes in how elections are administered.
While Congress can set some election-related rules, the Constitution largely leaves election administration to the states.
The White House suggested Trump may have been referring to the proposed SAVE Act, a House Republican bill that would require proof of citizenship documents to register to vote. Trump did not mention the legislation in his remarks.
Even some Republicans have expressed opposition. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said he disagreed with any attempt to federalize elections, calling it a constitutional issue.
Trump’s comments have raised alarm among Democrats and election officials who argue they are part of a broader effort to undermine trust in the democratic process.
Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija, who chairs the county’s board of elections, said Trump is testing the boundaries of federal involvement because he resists checks on his power.
Philadelphia City Commissioner Lisa Deeley accused Trump of using election rhetoric as a distraction from other controversies, including recent deadly federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota.
The debate comes as federal authorities recently seized ballots and voting records from Fulton County, Georgia, from the 2020 election. County officials said they plan to challenge the legality of the seizure in court.
Trump has made similar fraud claims since 2016 and continues to insist, falsely, that he actually won Pennsylvania in 2020. State officials have repeatedly said reviews and audits confirmed the results.
Source: Phila Inquirer