The claim is true because President Donald Trump left open the possibility of declaring a national security emergency connected to the 2026 midterm elections, although he did not announce that he would actually do so.
True
Trump just hinted that he might declare a national security emergency for midterm elections.
Trump setting stage to declare emergency around midterms, former White House attorney says - PBS News
Source: pbs.org
At a glance
Verified August 14, 2026Key Evidence
The Hill and USA on August 14, 2026 report that Wayne Root directly proposed declaring a national security emergency for elections if the SAVE America Act failed, and that Trump answered that stranger things had happened.
CNN independently reported that Trump declined to rule out using a national security emergency to assert greater control over the 2026 midterm elections.
None of the provided sources indicates that Trump had actually declared such an emergency by August 14, 2026.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Multiple reports published around August 11, 2026, describe an interview in which conservative commentator Wayne Root suggested that President Trump could declare a national security emergency if Congress failed to pass the SAVE America Act. The proposed action was described as a way to impose election-related requirements, including photo identification and proof of citizenship, and potentially expand federal control over election administration.
Trump reportedly responded, "Stranger things have happened," rather than rejecting the idea. That response supports the narrower claim that he hinted at or declined to rule out such an action. CNN, The Hill, USA Today, NewsNation, HuffPost, and other outlets all characterized the exchange in substantially similar terms.
The wording should not be overstated. The available evidence shows that Trump entertained the possibility in an interview, not that he declared an emergency, formally authorized federal control of the midterms, or established that such a declaration would be legally valid. PBS coverage also included a former White House attorney's assessment that Trump was setting the stage for an emergency declaration, but that is an expert interpretation rather than proof of a completed presidential action.
Because the statement concerns a current president and the 2026 midterm elections, the relevant timing is August 2026, during President Trump's current term. The sources establish a public remark and a possible proposal, while the actual legal or practical consequences remain unresolved.
Primary trail
Verified Sources10
Open source