President Donald Trump on Monday told supporters they can vote by mail if they want, even as he maintained that mail-in voting is plagued by fraud, during a tense exchange with a reporter that quickly circulated online.
According to a transcript of the exchange posted by the account @atrupar, the reporter asked, "Why are you telling your supporters to vote by mail if you think it's fraud?" Trump responded, "No, vote by mail or vote in person. I'd rather have them vote in person, but they can vote by mail if they want, because we seem to have no choice, because a lot of people want to vote by mail, but a lot of very good people also want to vote in person. You can do either."
The president then doubled down on his concerns: "What we're concerned about is there seems to be a lot of — not seems to be — there is a lot of cheating in vote by mail, a lot of cheating all over. I'll tell you what, start off by taking a look at California. Take a look at — take a look at — no evidence? With millions and millions of ballots? You are fake news."
The exchange came as Trump is urging supporters to turn out for the 2026 midterm elections, now less than a month away, and has been telling them to use every available method to cast a ballot. In recent days, he has said, "Vote early. Vote by mail. Or vote in person on Election Day," according to a post from the account @atrupar. That message marks a shift from July, when Trump said "mail-in ballots are inherently corrupt," a claim he has made repeatedly.
The reaction to Trump's latest remarks has been swift and widespread. The account @atrupar posted the exchange under the headline "REPORTER: Why are you telling your supporters to vote by mail if you think it's fraud? TRUMP: I'd rather have them vote in person, but they can vote by mail if they want. But there is a lot of cheating in vote by mail. REPORTER: There's no evidence TRUMP: You are fake news." The post included a video transcript that captured the full back-and-forth, showing Trump insisting that cheating exists despite the reporter's pushback.
Other accounts and outlets have also weighed in. The account @atrupar highlighted the exchange, while the account @JoeMyGod posted, "Man Who Calls Mail Voting A Scam Says Vote By Mail," linking to a post that read: "The 2026 midterm elections are upon us, and I'm asking every patriot to get out and vote. This is one of the most important elections of our lives, so to learn how and where to vote, go online to…"
Democracy Docket, a left-leaning voting rights organization, published a piece titled "Trump backtracks and begs Republicans to vote by mail as Democrats' odds of taking Congress improve," arguing that the president is now encouraging mail voting despite his previous attacks on the method. The Daily Mail reported that Trump is "testing out a new line on his supporters in an effort to get them out to vote in November," and noted that with less than a month left before the midterms, the president is focusing on turnout.
The account @atrupar also shared a post that said, "Republicans must WIN the 2026 Midterm Elections, and we must use every appropriate tool — Whether you vote early, absentee, by mail, or in-person, we must …" The post did not include the full text, but it echoed Trump's public message.
The controversy over mail-in voting is not new. Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that mail voting leads to widespread fraud. In July, he said mail-in ballots are "inherently corrupt." Yet as the midterms approach, he has urged his supporters to use mail voting if they cannot vote in person, a position that critics say is contradictory.
In the exchange with the reporter, Trump said he would prefer in-person voting but acknowledged that many people want to vote by mail. "We seem to have no choice," he said. He then asserted that cheating in vote by mail is rampant, pointing to California as an example. When the reporter noted there is no evidence of such fraud, Trump called the reporter "fake news."
Next News Network could not independently verify the claims made in the exchange or the existence of widespread mail-in voting fraud.
The reaction from the left has been fierce. The account @JoeMyGod mocked Trump by writing, "Man Who Calls Mail Voting A Scam Says Vote By Mail." Democracy Docket framed Trump's latest guidance as a retreat, suggesting that Democrats' improving odds in the midterms have forced the president to embrace mail voting after years of denouncing it. The Daily Mail characterized Trump's message as a plea to supporters to turn out, noting that he is "begging" them to vote.
The account @atrupar also shared a post that read, "Vote early. Vote by mail. Or vote in person on Election Day," which it attributed to Trump. That post highlights the president's current push to get Republicans to use all voting methods, a shift from his earlier rhetoric.
Trump's comments come as both parties gear up for the 2026 midterms, with control of Congress at stake. Democrats are hoping to retake the House and Senate, while Republicans are fighting to hold their majorities. Trump has been actively campaigning and urging his base to vote, warning that Democrats will "impeach me" if they win, according to the Daily Mail.
The exchange with the reporter is just the latest example of Trump's combative relationship with the press. In the transcript, he dismisses the reporter's fact-check with a familiar retort: "You are fake news." The video captured the tense moment, which has since been shared widely on social media.
While Trump continues to claim that mail voting is fraudulent, his own supporters are being told to use it. That contradiction has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, with some arguing that the president is undermining confidence in the electoral system even as he encourages his base to participate.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment on the exchange or the criticism. It is not yet known whether Trump will continue to promote mail voting in the final weeks before the midterms.
Our Take
Once again, President Trump is being attacked by the left and their media allies for stating an obvious truth: mail-in voting is ripe for fraud. The reporter's claim that there is "no evidence" of cheating is laughable. Just look at California, where millions of ballots are sent out with little oversight. Trump is right to warn about the dangers of mail voting, even as he acknowledges that Republicans should use every legal method to cast a ballot. The left is trying to have it both ways — they push mail voting, then cry foul when Trump points out the problems. The real story here is that Democrats know they can't win on Election Day, so they want to extend voting for weeks and harvest ballots. Trump is fighting to protect the integrity of our elections, and the fake news media can't stand it.
