2026: How It Could All Go Down

The plausibility of a plan by the upcoming Trump administration to suspend or nullify the results of the 2026 midterm elections through a national emergency declaration is underscored by actions and statements made by Donald Trump and his administration during the 2020 election, demonstrating a willingness to exploit crises and push executive boundaries to retain power. Throughout 2020, Trump consistently questioned election integrity, particularly by claiming widespread fraud in mail-in voting, preemptively framing the election as “rigged” to delegitimize unfavorable results.

After the election, Trump and allies like Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman attempted to pressure state officials to overturn certified results and proposed using alternate electors to shift outcomes, while officials such as Attorney General William Barr and DHS loyalists pursued unfounded claims of foreign interference to fuel the narrative. Calls to deploy federal resources in politically strategic ways—such as Michael Flynn’s public suggestion to invoke martial law or discussions of seizing voting machines through DHS—further underscored a readiness to sideline democratic norms under the guise of protecting national security. This history of using federal authority, media influence, and crisis narratives to justify extreme measures in 2020 makes a similar but more coordinated emergency plan in future elections not only plausible but consistent with the administration’s established tactics.

With the implementation of Project 2025, the Trump administration aims to eliminate the bureaucratic safeguards that, in 2020, hindered many of these attempts to overturn results. Project 2025’s agenda includes appointing loyalists to key federal agencies, from the DOJ and FBI to intelligence and state election oversight offices, effectively purging these agencies of any opposition or impartiality.

By filling critical roles with individuals aligned with the administration’s goals, Project 2025 ensures that loyalist appointees across the federal government will act in lockstep with Trump’s directives, removing the internal resistance that previously served as a check on executive overreach. This restructuring of federal agencies allows for a streamlined process where any directive—no matter how extreme—can be executed without delay or objection, creating a government machine that can quickly act to suspend or nullify elections under a coordinated national emergency plan.

Compounding this, the Supreme Court has ruled that actions Trump deems part of his “official duties” carry a presumption of legality, effectively shielding his actions from challenge if they are presented as serving national interests. This precedent not only offers a powerful legal shield but also emboldens Trump to carry out actions that were constitutionally questionable in 2020, such as attempting to overturn certified results or pressuring state officials. Under this doctrine, any national emergency declared by Trump, even if transparently self-serving, would be treated as lawful. This legal protection vastly increases the likelihood of success in any attempt to suspend or interfere with elections, as it deprives challengers of the immediate recourse they relied upon in 2020 and places the entire federal apparatus under an unchallenged and singular executive authority.

The Scenario: A National Emergency Declaration with a Multi-Stage Plan to Suspend the Election

Overview

This hypothetical plan to cancel/nullify the 2026 midterm elections involves a rapid, multipronged approach that leverages a national emergency declaration to disrupt the election while consolidating control. The strategy would rely on federal agency alignment, media narratives, and fast-track judicial backing to create a “fait accompli,” preventing meaningful state or public resistance. The mechanism for achieving this would be a declaration of a national emergency based on fabricated or exaggerated security threats—domestic or foreign—that allegedly endanger the integrity and security of the upcoming election. The goal is to create a perceived national crisis severe enough to justify extreme, temporary federal control over election processes and suppress opposition turnout, ultimately rendering the election irrelevant or indefinitely postponed.

The administration’s objectives will be:

1. Create an immediate crisis atmosphere requiring an “emergency response.”
2. Deploy federal forces to opposition strongholds to reduce voter turnout.
3. Implement rapid federal judicial rulings to legally validate the delay.
4. Control the media narrative to reduce public resistance and legitimize actions in the eyes of Trump supporters.
5. Leave opposition and state officials unable to respond effectively, making the suspension irreversible before it can be legally challenged or effectively resisted.

Phase 1: Establishing a Crisis Atmosphere (One Month Before the Election)

Day 1-3: Launching the National Security Threat Narrative

• Key Players: Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Director of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
• Actions:
  • DNI Tulsi Gabbard issues an urgent intelligence report claiming evidence of foreign interference, specifically naming China and Iran as major threats to election infrastructure. She warns that these actors are targeting opposition-heavy cities.
  • DHS Director Kristi Noem, in coordination with Gabbard, issues a series of alerts warning state and local officials of imminent threats to major urban centers, with special focus on cities in swing states like Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, and Milwaukee.
  • Attorney General Pam Bondi announces that the DOJ has begun investigations into suspected foreign collusion, pledging “extraordinary measures” to secure the election. Noem supports these warnings in media appearances, emphasizing the need to protect “American values and freedom” against foreign influence.

Day 4-10: Saturation of Crisis Messaging and Narrative Control

• Key Players: Major right-wing media figures, including Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Steve Bannon, along with Newsmax and social media influencers.
• Actions:
  • Tucker Carlson hosts exclusive interviews with Kristi Noem and Tulsi Gabbard, allowing them to explain the severity of the threats. Noem stresses that her department will use all available resources to prevent a “foreign takeover” of American elections.
  • Newsmax, OAN, and right-wing radio networks flood the airwaves with discussions of a potential “rigged election” orchestrated by foreign governments and “unpatriotic” state officials. Social media influencers amplify the message, encouraging Trump supporters to view extreme measures as necessary for protecting democracy.

Phase 2: Declaring the National Emergency and Deploying Federal Forces (Three Weeks Before the Election)

Day 11-13: Official Declaration of National Emergency

• Key Players: President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, DHS Director Kristi Noem, DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
• Actions:
  • Trump, in a primetime address, declares a national emergency based on “overwhelming evidence” of foreign interference and threats of domestic unrest. He announces that the administration will take “extraordinary actions” to secure the upcoming election.
  • Noem officially mobilizes DHS resources under the emergency declaration, ordering federal agents and DHS personnel to deploy in key urban areas. She authorizes these agents to establish checkpoints and conduct security sweeps in high-density polling locations.
  • Gabbard confirms that the federal government will closely monitor election systems in swing states, stating that these actions are essential to prevent “foreign entities from hijacking the election.”

Day 14-16: Federal Deployment to Opposition Strongholds

• Key Players: DHS under Kristi Noem’s leadership, FBI task forces, and National Guard units federalized by Trump.
• Locations: Deployment focuses on opposition-leaning cities—Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Las Vegas.
• Actions:
  • DHS under Noem’s direction deploys agents to secure polling sites in Democratic strongholds, establishing “safety perimeters” that restrict access and impose ID checks on residents attempting to enter or leave.
  • National Guard units, under presidential orders, are positioned in these cities to “maintain public order,” creating a highly visible military presence. This move is intended to intimidate voters and slow down voting access, effectively suppressing turnout in opposition areas.
  • Noem appears on major news networks, emphasizing that these measures are essential to protect voters from “foreign manipulation and chaos.” Her messaging is echoed by DOJ, which declares that these deployments are critical for election integrity.

Phase 3: Enforcing Federal Control Over Election Procedures and Targeted Voter Roll Purges (Two Weeks Before the Election)

Day 17-21: Implementing Strategic Voter Roll Purges and Suspensions

• Key Players: Attorney General Pam Bondi, DHS Director Kristi Noem, Trump-aligned federal judges.
• Locations: Urban centers and Democratic-leaning districts in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia.
• Actions:
  • Bondi and Noem jointly announce an immediate audit and purge of voter rolls in “high-risk” districts, citing foreign interference. The purge specifically targets opposition-heavy areas, removing voters from rolls if they fail to immediately confirm their eligibility in person.
  • DHS under Noem’s orders tightens access to polling sites in affected areas, imposing stringent identification checks that disproportionately impact minority and urban voters. This move effectively disenfranchises thousands of potential opposition voters who may be unaware of their status until Election Day.
  • Trump-appointed federal judges dismiss lawsuits challenging the purges and ID checks, arguing that these actions are within the executive’s authority during a national emergency. This judicial support ensures that the purge proceeds without further legal barriers.

Day 22-25: Expedited Judicial Approval of Emergency Measures

• Key Players: Trump-appointed federal judges, Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
• Actions:
  • Lower courts, stacked with Trump-aligned judges, rule in favor of the emergency measures. The purges and restricted access zones around polling sites are upheld as necessary for national security, creating a veneer of legality for these actions.
  • The Supreme Court declines to expedite appeals challenging the actions, with Justice Kavanaugh writing a brief opinion supporting the executive’s prerogative to “safeguard the democratic process” in a time of national emergency. This ruling effectively blocks state-level officials from intervening or altering DHS’s security protocols.

Phase 4: Blocking Certification of Results in Opposition Strongholds (One Week Before the Election)

Day 26-28: Stalling Certification of “Compromised” Districts

• Key Players: DOJ under Pam Bondi, DHS under Kristi Noem, Republican-led state legislatures in swing states.
• Locations: Democratic strongholds in swing states—Philadelphia (PA), Detroit (MI), Atlanta (GA), and Phoenix (AZ).
• Actions:
  • Noem and Bondi announce that specific high-density districts are being investigated for suspicious voting activity linked to foreign actors. Certification in these districts is temporarily suspended until DHS and DOJ complete “comprehensive security checks.”
  • Republican-led state legislatures in swing states issue resolutions supporting the suspension of certification in affected districts, framing it as an effort to ensure a fair vote. This legislative support strengthens the administration’s actions and limits state-level resistance.
  • Federal agents remain stationed at election offices in these cities, physically blocking local election officials from finalizing certification in these key Democratic areas.

Day 29-30: Media Campaign to Justify and Normalize the Suspensions

• Key Players: Right-wing media figures, social media influencers aligned with Trump.
• Actions:
  • Right-wing media outlets launch a coordinated campaign praising Trump’s actions to “protect democracy from foreign interference.” Kristi Noem appears on Fox News, framing the suspension of certification as necessary and temporary.
  • Social media campaigns promoted by influencers and Trump surrogates push the message that opposition to these measures is tantamount to supporting foreign enemies. Hashtags like #SecureTheVote and #ProtectTheRepublic trend widely, normalizing the emergency actions among Trump supporters.

Phase 5: Formal Suspension of the Election Results (Election Day)

Day 31 (Election Day): Official Suspension of Election Certification

• Key Players: President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, DHS Director Kristi Noem, DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
• Actions:
  • Trump delivers a primetime address, announcing that due to “overwhelming evidence of foreign interference and compromised election integrity,” he is suspending certification of election results in all affected districts. He claims this is necessary to protect the Republic and ensure only legitimate votes are counted.
  • Attorney General Bondi directs DOJ to enforce a nationwide freeze on vote certification until further notice, instructing federal agents to prevent any attempt at unauthorized certification. DHS under Noem’s command tightens security measures around critical polling and counting centers in key swing states.
  • DNI Gabbard releases a public statement backing the suspension, citing ongoing investigations into foreign plots. She warns that rushing certification could “risk national security,” reinforcing the justification for an indefinite hold on the election results.

Post-Election: Consolidating Control and Normalizing the Suspension

• Key Players: Loyalist media outlets, Trump’s legal team, state Republican leaders.
• Actions:
  • With election certification indefinitely suspended, loyalist media outlets like Fox News, Newsmax, and OAN normalize the situation, framing it as an act of patriotic necessity. Kristi Noem and other Trump officials make media rounds, insisting that the suspension is temporary and vital to protecting the nation.
  • Trump’s legal team files to maintain the suspension indefinitely until DHS and DOJ complete their “investigations,” a process that could take months. Republican leaders in Congress support these actions, painting opposition attempts to reinstate the election as anti-American.

In conclusion, while this scenario is hypothetical, it aligns closely with actions taken by Donald Trump and his allies in 2020, as well as the stated objectives of Project 2025 and key GOP leadership goals. During and after the 2020 election, Trump and his administration demonstrated a clear willingness to challenge and undermine democratic processes, pushing both legal and extralegal boundaries to retain power. Project 2025 is specifically designed to prevent the types of internal checks that blocked several of these efforts in 2020 by embedding loyalists in critical federal roles across the DOJ, DHS, intelligence, and other agencies, creating a streamlined, centralized administration that can execute Trump’s directives without opposition.

Once Trump is inaugurated and has time to implement Project 2025, likely within a year, these plans would be well within reach. The complete alignment of federal agencies, coupled with recent judicial rulings granting Trump’s “official duties” a presumption of legality, would remove most legal and institutional barriers to suspending or nullifying elections under the pretext of a national emergency. Without meaningful checks on executive power, this structure would grant the administration unprecedented control over election processes, making the hypothetical scenarios in this plan not only possible but likely unchallengeable, and setting the stage for an unprecedented consolidation of power.