Trump Doubles Down On California Fraud Claims — Experts Warn The Real Threat Is Election Denialism

President Donald Trump and several top Republicans have renewed unproven allegations that California’s primary was "rigged," focusing on slow mail-ballot counts and shifts in early leads. Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles have opened what they describe as "multiple election fraud investigations" and sent a prosecutor to observe ballot processing — moves that have amplified partisan tensions even as election experts say there is no evidence of widespread fraud.

What Happened

On June 7 on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump called the California primary “rigged,” citing the pace of counting and late-arriving mail ballots that narrowed early Republican leads. Asked for evidence, he replied: “All I have to do is look.” At a roundtable in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, he added that “it’s a crooked state,” again offering no verifiable proof.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles announced it had opened “multiple election fraud investigations” and dispatched a prosecutor to the county’s vote-counting center. Los Angeles U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, a Trump appointee, said the state has “serious structural vulnerabilities,” though officials did not disclose details.

A sign indicates where to go to vote at the Ventura County Government Center in Ventura, California, on October 22, 2024.

Expert Analysis

Election officials and security experts counter that the California experience reflects procedural issues — not proof of systematic fraud. Stephen Richer, former Maricopa County recorder and now a legal fellow at the Cato Institute and a senior fellow at Harvard’s Ash Center, told Newsweek there is “no basis” for the fraud claims. Richer, who ran voting operations in one of the country’s biggest swing counties, warned the larger danger is the political environment: officials in key positions willing to amplify or act on baseless claims.

“The big change is that for the first time ever, we have people in key law enforcement positions who are willing to indulge this nonsense and might even be willing to mobilize based on fantasies,” Richer said.

Jim Kessler of the center-left think tank Third Way called Trump’s approach strategic: blaming fraud when facing likely electoral losses. Chris Krebs and former Attorney General Bill Barr previously rejected claims that 2020 results were altered; courts and recounts largely upheld those results.

Why This Matters

Analysts say the president cannot unilaterally cancel or reverse elections, but the erosion of trust and the elevation of election-denial narratives by political leaders can produce chaos, prolonged legal battles and difficulty certifying results. Experts highlight scenarios that would be especially damaging — for example, if federal agents seized ballots or tabulation equipment from a local election office while counting was still underway.

An election worker processes mail-in ballots for the California primary election at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center on June 5, 2026, in City of Industry, California. The Department of Justice sent a federal prosecutor to observe ballot counting in Los Angeles County after President Donald Trump alleged, without evidence, that delays in counting ballots were the result of election fraud. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Justice Department has pursued materials from the 2020 election: it sued Fulton County, Georgia, seeking ballots and related records and the FBI later seized some materials. The DOJ has also sought voter records in 21 states and D.C.; judges in several states have dismissed some of those lawsuits.

Process Versus Fraud

California’s heavy reliance on mail voting means final tallies sometimes take days to finalize. Because Democrats tend to return mail ballots later, early-night results can favor Republicans — a pattern called the "red mirage" that fuels conspiracy theories even when the counting process is lawful and transparent.

Voices across the political spectrum urged procedural reform and clearer communication rather than unfounded accusations. Kessler urged Republican officials who have distanced themselves from Trump to publicly rebut baseless claims. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said audits, recounts and court reviews have found no evidence of widespread fraud.

Whatever investigations find, experts emphasize that protecting democracy will require steady officials, transparent processes and political leaders who avoid amplifying unproven allegations that could undermine public confidence.