As the 2026 midterm elections approach, concerns surrounding potential election interference by President Donald Trump are under intense scrutiny. A prominent election attorney has recently issued a stark warning about Trump’s apparent strategies to undermine the electoral process.

In a YouTube video posted on Monday, Marc Elias, who leads the voting rights legal firm Democracy Docket, asserted that Trump is openly revealing his plans to disrupt the upcoming elections. “Donald Trump is telling us every day what he plans to do in this year’s midterm elections,” he stated. Elias emphasized the importance of paying attention to Trump’s rhetoric, expressing alarm that much of the media and political commentary may be underestimating the gravity of his warnings.

Elias elaborated on Trump’s approach, detailing various tactics designed to make voting more difficult while creating opportunities for voter fraud. “It’s not just about what has been done in the past,” he said. “It’s about what he is indicating he wishes to do.” According to Elias, Trump’s past remarks suggest he would resort to extreme measures—such as mobilizing the National Guard—to seize ballot boxes if he saw fit.

One of the alarming aspects of Trump’s strategy includes attempts to access sensitive voter data through the Department of Justice. Elias noted that his firm has contended with the DOJ’s legal actions in 30 states, successfully defeating them 26 times. “So far, they’ve not won a single case,” said Elias, reflecting on the victories against what he describes as a concerted effort to intimidate voters.

The attorney also referenced the Supreme Court’s decisions that have hindered Trump’s attempts to manipulate voting mechanisms, including a controversial case involving the U.S. Postal Service. The court decisively ruled against the idea that the Postal Service could be used as a tool for voter suppression, which Elias views as a significant win for electoral integrity.

Moreover, Elias pointed out ongoing efforts to gerrymander congressional districts as another method through which Trump has sought to reshape electoral dynamics. While some of these gerrymandering attempts were rolled back by recent court rulings, the overall campaign to manipulate the voting landscape continues unabated.

In discussing the breadth of Trump’s tactics, Elias described an “all-of-government approach,” highlighting how various agencies are allegedly working to disenfranchise voters, particularly targeting Democrats. He revealed plans to deliver state citizenship lists, an initiative that he believes could lead to further voter suppression if states do not comply.

According to Elias, the situation has reached a point where Trump’s administration has been accused of using various governmental resources as instruments of voter intimidation, which, if unchecked, could create severe disruptions as election day approaches.

Dr. Steven Levitsky, a Harvard government professor, echoed Elias’ concerns, asserting that Trump may resort to authoritarian measures to manipulate the election outcome. “We don’t know for sure whether he can get away with it,” Levitsky said. “But the fact remains that we’re not prepared for a radical seizure of power.”

Levitsky warned that Trump’s precedent of dismissing democratic norms could lead to scenarios where he might unilaterally declare an emergency or mobilize forces to seize ballot boxes, igniting a constitutional crisis.

In a stark contrast to these warnings, Justin Levitt, a constitutional law professor at Loyola Law School and prior Deputy Assistant Attorney General, downplayed the threat Trump poses in this context. He argued that treating Trump as an overzealous figure is more appropriate than fearing the potential for a “steal” of the midterms. “As weird as it may seem, treat the president the same as the guy screaming by the freeway exit,” Levitt stated.

While opinions differ on the level of threat Trump poses, the discourse surrounding electoral integrity remains heated. Elias’ insights highlight a significant concern about the future of voting rights, particularly in a landscape increasingly characterized by partisan divides.

As both sides continue vying for control, the legal and political battleground surrounding the midterms is becoming ever more contentious. The actions taken in the coming weeks could have lasting implications for the integrity of U.S. elections.

With November 3rd approaching fast, the stakes are high for both Trump and the opposition. The narrative surrounding these elections will likely shape political discourse leading into the presidential elections of 2028.

The focus now is not only on what Trump is planning but also on how courts and the legal establishment will respond. This reaction could not only define the upcoming midterms but also set the tone for democratic governance in the years to come.

As the drama unfolds, there is a pressing need for vigilance and engagement from voters to ensure that their rights are preserved in the face of these challenges. The coming months could be pivotal for the future of American democracy.