Constitutional lawyer and writer David French has raised significant concerns regarding former President Donald Trump and his potential strategies to influence the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. In an op-ed published on October 15, 2023, in The New York Times, French cautioned that Trump’s actions could undermine electoral integrity in ways that are not immediately visible to the public.
French characterized Trump as a leader who disregards legal boundaries and commands a compliant Congress, supported by a base of millions who believe his assertions without question. “A president who doesn’t care about the law… represents a threat to the next election,” he stated. He expressed his concern that many citizens remain unaware of the potential dangers ahead, describing a pervasive sense of complacency among the electorate.
French drew parallels between the current political climate and historical events, notably referencing the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, which was incited by Trump’s false claims of a “rigged” 2020 election. He argued that the current environment reflects similar risks, particularly in light of recent actions that he views as attempts to manipulate the electoral process.
He highlighted the recent FBI raid on a Georgia election center, noting the involvement of Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s director of national intelligence. This incident, French argued, has raised eyebrows and contributed to concerns about election integrity. Furthermore, he pointed to Trump’s mass deportation operations, which he claims could suppress voter turnout by instilling fear among nonwhite populations, thereby discouraging them from participating in the electoral process.
In addition, French emphasized Trump’s continued propagation of false narratives regarding the 2020 election, including a recent social media post suggesting that Italian satellites hacked American voting machines to alter the election outcome. He underscored that these actions might create an environment where Trump can significantly influence the results of the elections without direct manipulation of the vote count.
“The reality is that Trump can unlawfully influence an election without explicitly rigging the count,” French warned. He described this scenario as akin to a fire drill, an urgent signal to the public about the potential for electoral manipulation. “Consider this an alarm that should be echoing across the country,” he urged, cautioning that Trump’s tactics are not merely about preventing perceived electoral theft but may already constitute a form of electoral theft themselves.
As the nation approaches the 2026 midterm elections, French’s warning serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges to democratic processes and the necessity for vigilance among voters. His observations resonate with concerns shared by many about the future of democracy in the United States and the implications of unchecked political power.
