Former President Donald Trump briefly floated the idea of canceling future U.S. elections while speaking to House Republicans, then quickly said he was not seriously proposing such a move. Sen. Chris Murphy and other critics point to past comments—including a remark about "no more elections" in wartime—and to the timing of the remarks on the fifth anniversary of Jan. 6 as reasons for concern. Observers say the pattern of rhetoric makes these comments more than mere bluster and worth scrutiny.
Trump Floats Canceling 2026 Midterms, Then Quickly Backtracks
Former President Donald Trump briefly raised the prospect of canceling future U.S. elections while addressing House Republicans at their annual retreat, then immediately insisted he was not formally proposing such a move. The comments renewed concerns about his attitude toward democratic norms, especially given their timing on the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack.
What He Said
At the Kennedy Center, Trump criticized Democrats and slipped into a hypothetical about elections:
"How we have to run against these people... I won't say, 'Cancel the election, they should cancel the election,' because the fake news will say, 'He wants the elections canceled. He's a dictator.'"
Context And Related Remarks
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has repeatedly warned that comments like these—combined with past statements—raise legitimate concerns about the integrity of future contests. Murphy told MS NOW hosts Nicolle Wallace and Jen Psaki that "there’s no guarantee that we are going to have a free and fair election in 2026" and later said, "We can’t be preparing for the 2026 election. It might not come."
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the House Republican Party member retreat at the Kennedy Center on Jan. 6, 2026.(Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)
Observers also point to a reported August exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump said, "Say, 3 1/2 years from now... if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections." Other past remarks attributed to Trump include talk of ignoring or "terminating" parts of the Constitution and musings about a temporary "dictatorship."
Why It Matters
Casual references to canceling elections carry weight when viewed alongside a pattern of rhetoric that critics say undermines democratic institutions. The remarks' timing—on the Jan. 6 anniversary—and Trump's role in the events of that day have intensified scrutiny. Although Trump framed his Kennedy Center comment as rhetorical and not a formal proposal, historians, legal scholars, and many political observers say such language is worrying and merits close attention.
Reporting Note: The Kennedy Center remarks were reported by Time; related comments and reactions were covered by MS NOW and other outlets.
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