Trump Calls to Nationalize Elections After FBI Georgia Raid

Washington, DC — President Donald Trump urged congressional Republicans to “take over” or effectively nationalize voting procedures across the United States, citing what he described as widespread but unsubstantiated claims of election irregularities from the 2024 cycle. The provocative comments, delivered during a fiery speech at a GOP fundraising event on February 3, 2026, come as the FBI executed a high-profile raid on election materials in Fulton County, Georgia, intensifying debates over election security and federal oversight in an increasingly polarized political landscape.

Trump’s call for nationalization — which he framed as necessary to “protect the integrity of our elections” — has sparked immediate backlash from Democrats, who warn it could lead to unprecedented federal interference in state-run voting systems ahead of the 2026 midterms. The remarks also coincide with ongoing federal probes into alleged election improprieties, with Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard reportedly linked to related inquiries through her office’s intelligence assessments.

Trump’s Push for Federal Control Over Elections

In his address to Republican donors and lawmakers, President Trump lambasted what he called “corrupt” state and local election officials, particularly in Democratic-leaning areas, for purportedly allowing “massive fraud” in previous elections. “We need to nationalize this thing,” Trump stated. “Republicans in Congress should take over the voting systems — make them uniform, secure, and run by people who love this country. No more rigged machines, no more fake ballots.”

The proposal echoes long-standing conservative calls for stricter federal standards on voter ID, ballot harvesting, and mail-in voting, but Trump’s language of “taking over” has raised alarms about potential overreach. White House officials later clarified that the president meant advocating for legislation to standardize election processes under federal guidelines, similar to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, but with enhanced enforcement mechanisms.

Critics, however, interpret it as a veiled threat to undermine state autonomy, especially in battleground states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, where 2024 results were hotly contested.

FBI Raid in Fulton County: Seizing Election Materials

The timing of Trump’s comments aligns with an FBI raid on February 2, 2026, at the Fulton County Elections Office in Atlanta, Georgia. Federal agents, armed with search warrants, seized boxes of election materials, including voter rolls, ballots from storage, server data, and communications records dating back to 2020 and 2024 elections.

The raid stems from an ongoing investigation into claims of election interference and irregularities, revived under the Trump administration’s Justice Department. Sources familiar with the probe indicate it focuses on allegations of ballot tampering, unauthorized access to voting machines, and coordination between local officials and external groups — claims that were previously dismissed by courts but have been reopened following Trump’s return to office.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who previously led a state probe into Trump’s 2020 election efforts, condemned the raid as “politically motivated intimidation.” The FBI has not commented on specifics, citing the active investigation, but confirmed the action was court-authorized.

DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s Involvement and Broader Inquiries

Adding another layer to the controversy, DNI Tulsi Gabbard has been linked to the inquiries through declassified intelligence reports from her office. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman who switched parties and was appointed DNI in January 2025, has overseen assessments alleging foreign influence in U.S. elections, including potential ties to domestic actors. Her reports reportedly reference Fulton County as a “vulnerability hotspot,” fueling speculation that the raid was informed by national intelligence.

Gabbard defended her role in a statement, emphasizing that her office’s work is “apolitical and focused on safeguarding democracy from all threats, foreign and domestic.” However, Democrats have accused her of bias, pointing to her past criticisms of the intelligence community and alignment with Trump’s agenda.

Democratic Alarms and Midterm Implications

Democratic leaders swiftly denounced Trump’s proposal as a “direct assault on democracy.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it “authoritarian rhetoric” that could pave the way for voter suppression. Senate Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, vowed to block any legislation aiming to federalize elections, arguing it violates the Constitution’s delegation of election administration to states.

The developments have heightened concerns about the 2026 midterms, with advocacy groups like the ACLU and Common Cause warning of potential chaos if federal agents increasingly intervene in local processes. Polls show public opinion divided, with Republicans largely supportive of stricter measures and Democrats viewing them as partisan power grabs.

As debates rage, legal experts note that fully nationalizing elections would require constitutional amendments or Supreme Court rulings, making Trump’s call more symbolic than immediately actionable — though it could influence pending bills like the proposed “Election Integrity Act.”

This is a developing story. ClickUSAnews.com will provide updates as more details emerge from the White House, Congress, and ongoing investigations.

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