In a recent interview with the New York Times, former President Donald Trump stated that he regrets not ordering the U.S. National Guard to seize voting machines following his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. Trump has consistently claimed, without evidence, that he won the election, a narrative that has been widely discredited by election integrity experts who affirm that the 2020 election was the most secure in U.S. history.

The discussion of military involvement in the election process stems from a plan considered in late 2020, where Trump and several advisers, including attorney Sidney Powell and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, discussed the possibility of using military or federal authority to seize Dominion voting machines in key swing states. This plan was purportedly aimed at uncovering alleged voter fraud. Reports indicate that during a December 2020 meeting in the Oval Office, advisers presented Trump with draft executive orders outlining how such a seizure could be executed, referencing conspiracy theories regarding election fraud in states like Georgia and Michigan.

Despite these discussions, Trump faced significant opposition from senior officials in his administration, including then-Attorney General William Barr, who rejected the proposal. Ultimately, Trump did not proceed with the plan. In the interview, Trump remarked, "Well, I should have" when asked about his previous threats to use the National Guard for seizing election boxes, but he also expressed doubts about the National Guard's capability to handle such a task, suggesting they may lack the sophistication to navigate what he described as the deceptive practices of Democrats.

Trump's claims about the 2020 election have led to significant legal repercussions, including a $787 million defamation lawsuit won by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News for broadcasting false information. The U.S. Constitution grants states the authority to conduct elections, with Congress holding the power to regulate them, meaning the president does not possess the legal authority to seize election equipment.

Despite this, some of Trump's supporters have urged him to invoke emergency powers to take control of the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer involved in Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, suggested that the president might consider exercising such powers to protect federal elections. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court recently limited Trump's ability to deploy the National Guard, upholding a decision that kept troops out of Chicago.

During the interview, Trump was also questioned about his acceptance of election results, particularly if Democrats were to win the midterms. He implied he would not accept such results, reiterating his belief that elections are "rigged" and advocating for voter ID laws and restrictions on mail-in voting, which he claims lead to fraudulent elections.