Trump questions whether the midterm election was honest, pointing to early-vote counts and machines; Schumer and Megyn Kelly push back
Six days after the 2026 midterms, Trump asked on Truth Social whether anybody believed the election was honest, citing the polls, early-vote "dumps" and machines. He had said on election night that he was absolutely willing to accept the results.
BackgroundWho runs U.S. elections?How are U.S. election results certified?
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Trump congratulated Democrats after the November 3 election and told Fox News the party did a good job. In a CBS 60 Minutes interview aired November 8, he confirmed he had congratulated them and said he was open to working with the incoming Democratic majority. The New York Times reported that on Saturday, November 7, Trump shared several posts from others questioning the results with mathematical theories about election rigging.
Al Jazeera reported that Trump provided no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing, and that a Pew Research Center analysis of pre-election polling found the polls understated the Democratic margin by at least 2 points in 23 of 27 races for governor and the U.S. Senate.
Trump has disputed the results of earlier elections, including his 2020 loss.
Background: Terms in this case
People in this case
Donald TrumpDirectly involved
Chuck SchumerDirectly involved
Jake TapperCommented
Jon FavreauCommented
Timeline
5 timeline entries on this page. Dates: November 3, 2026 to November 9, 2026
November 2026
Democrats win control of Congress, and Trump says he will accept the results
Incident
On election night, Trump says he is absolutely willing to accept the results. He congratulates Democrats and later tells Fox News the party did a good job.
[01]The New York Times
New York Times report of November 9, 2026, carried in full by The Philadelphia Inquirer. It says Trump said on election night that he was absolutely willing to accept the results, that he shared posts questioning the results on Saturday, November 7, and quotes his November 9 post and Megyn Kelly's reply.
The New York Times: Trump veers back into claims of rigged election for midterms · The New York TimesFull article (New York Times story carried by The Philadelphia Inquirer)[02]Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera report of November 9, 2026 on Trump's post, his earlier statements accepting the results, a Pew Research analysis of pre-election polling, and responses from Chuck Schumer and Megyn Kelly.
Al Jazeera: Trump reverses stance, alleges fraud in recent US midterm elections · Al JazeeraArticle textTrump shares posts questioning the results
The New York Times reports that Trump shares several posts from others on Saturday that question the results with mathematical theories about election rigging.
[01]The New York Times
New York Times report of November 9, 2026, carried in full by The Philadelphia Inquirer. It says Trump said on election night that he was absolutely willing to accept the results, that he shared posts questioning the results on Saturday, November 7, and quotes his November 9 post and Megyn Kelly's reply.
The New York Times: Trump veers back into claims of rigged election for midterms · The New York TimesFull article (New York Times story carried by The Philadelphia Inquirer)Trump says on 60 Minutes that he is open to working with Democrats
In a CBS 60 Minutes interview, Trump confirms that he congratulated Democrats on their victories and says he is open to working with the incoming Democratic majority.
[02]Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera report of November 9, 2026 on Trump's post, his earlier statements accepting the results, a Pew Research analysis of pre-election polling, and responses from Chuck Schumer and Megyn Kelly.
Al Jazeera: Trump reverses stance, alleges fraud in recent US midterm elections · Al JazeeraArticle textTrump asks whether anybody believes the election was honest
Claim
Trump writes on Truth Social that the polls could not have been so wrong, that some early voting "dumps" were so large that it was impossible to win, and that it is all about the machines.
[03]Donald Trump
Trump asks whether anybody believes the election was honest and how the polls could be so wrong, writes that some early voting "dumps" were so large that it was impossible to win, and says it is all about the machines.
Trump's Truth Social post asking whether the 2026 midterm election was honest · Donald TrumpFull post, November 9, 2026, 10:07 a.m. EST[01]The New York Times
New York Times report of November 9, 2026, carried in full by The Philadelphia Inquirer. It says Trump said on election night that he was absolutely willing to accept the results, that he shared posts questioning the results on Saturday, November 7, and quotes his November 9 post and Megyn Kelly's reply.
The New York Times: Trump veers back into claims of rigged election for midterms · The New York TimesFull article (New York Times story carried by The Philadelphia Inquirer)[02]Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera report of November 9, 2026 on Trump's post, his earlier statements accepting the results, a Pew Research analysis of pre-election polling, and responses from Chuck Schumer and Megyn Kelly.
Al Jazeera: Trump reverses stance, alleges fraud in recent US midterm elections · Al JazeeraArticle textSchumer, Megyn Kelly and Jake Tapper reject the post
Reaction
Within two hours, Tapper mocks the idea of a Texas conspiracy, Kelly replies "Just stop," and Schumer calls the post a return to election denialism.
[04]Jake Tapper
The CNN anchor's post on X, which attaches a screenshot of Trump's November 9 Truth Social post and refers to the Texas results.
Jake Tapper's post on Trump's claim about the midterm election, citing the Texas results · Jake TapperPost on X, November 9, 2026, 10:31 a.m. EST, with a screenshot of Trump's post[05]Megyn Kelly
Megyn Kelly's post on X, which attaches a screenshot of Trump's November 9 Truth Social post about the midterm election.
Megyn Kelly's post replying to Trump's question about the midterm election · Megyn KellyPost on X, November 9, 2026, 10:47 a.m. EST, with a screenshot of Trump's post[06]Chuck Schumer
The Senate Democratic leader's post on X responding to Trump's post about the midterm election.
Chuck Schumer's post calling Trump's election claims a return to election denialism · Chuck SchumerPost on X, November 9, 2026, 11:44 a.m. EST[02]Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera report of November 9, 2026 on Trump's post, his earlier statements accepting the results, a Pew Research analysis of pre-election polling, and responses from Chuck Schumer and Megyn Kelly.
Al Jazeera: Trump reverses stance, alleges fraud in recent US midterm elections · Al JazeeraArticle text
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
The 2026 midterm election was not honest: some early voting "dumps" were so large that it was impossible to win no matter how many people voted, and the machines mattered more than the voters.
What is disputed
Trump's November 9 post asks whether anybody believes the election was honest and makes these assertions without naming a state, a count or a voting system. Al Jazeera reported that he provided no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing. Chuck Schumer called the post a return to election denialism, and Megyn Kelly and Jake Tapper rejected it in posts on X.
Sources (3)
- Trump's Truth Social post asking whether the 2026 midterm election was honest · Donald TrumpFull post, November 9, 2026, 10:07 a.m. EST
- Al Jazeera: Trump reverses stance, alleges fraud in recent US midterm elections · Al JazeeraArticle text
- The New York Times: Trump veers back into claims of rigged election for midterms · The New York TimesFull article (New York Times story carried by The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
3 responses. Newest first.
Chuck SchumerSenate Democratic leader, in a post on XDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Schumer's post attaches a screenshot of Trump's November 9 Truth Social post asking whether anybody believed the midterm election was honest. He posted about 100 minutes after Trump.
"Donald Trump’s pathetic return to election denialism was inevitable. He can whine all he wants, but nothing will stop this inescapable truth: For the last two years of his presidency, Trump will face the largest Democratic congressional majorities in decades, all because he has been an unprecedented failure."
CondemnedResponding to: The 2026 midterm election was not honest: some early voting "dumps" were so large that it was impossible to win no matter how many people voted, and the machines mattered more than the voters.
Full statement and sources
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says Trump's return to election denialism was inevitable and that Trump will face the largest Democratic congressional majorities in decades for the rest of his term.
After the statement
Al Jazeera reported Schumer's post together with Trump's earlier statements accepting the results.
Chuck Schumer's post calling Trump's election claims a return to election denialism · Chuck SchumerPost on X, November 9, 2026, 11:44 a.m. ESTAl Jazeera: Trump reverses stance, alleges fraud in recent US midterm elections · Al JazeeraArticle textWhy this label?
The reference point is Trump's November 9, 2026 claim that the midterm election was not honest because of large early-vote counts and machines. Schumer calls the post pathetic election denialism, which condemns it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Jake TapperCNN anchor, in a post on XBefore this statement
Tapper's post attaches a screenshot of Trump's November 9 Truth Social post asking whether anybody believed the election was honest.
"Ah yes the diabolical conspiracy in Texas to deliver the state to Democrats, led by the heads of the state…. GOP Governor Abbot and … Attorney General Paxton who …. lost…."
Challenged the characterizationResponding to: The 2026 midterm election was not honest: some early voting "dumps" were so large that it was impossible to win no matter how many people voted, and the machines mattered more than the voters.
Full statement and sources
CNN anchor Jake Tapper responds to Trump's post by sarcastically describing a conspiracy in Texas to deliver the state to Democrats, led by Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
After the statement
The post refers to Texas, where Republicans hold the governor's office and the attorney general's office.
Jake Tapper's post on Trump's claim about the midterm election, citing the Texas results · Jake TapperPost on X, November 9, 2026, 10:31 a.m. EST, with a screenshot of Trump's postWhy this label?
The reference point is Trump's November 9, 2026 claim that the midterm election was not honest because of large early-vote counts and machines. Tapper uses the Texas results to argue that the claim of a rigged count does not hold up, which disputes Trump's characterization of the election.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Jon FavreauPod Save America co-host, in a post on XBefore this statement
Favreau quotes a post by Aaron Rupar that carries the text of Trump's Truth Social post asking whether anybody believed the election was honest.
"There's our guy - figured it would take a few days for the reality of the electoral annihilation to slip through Natalie's gatekeeping and reach Trump"
Challenged the characterizationResponding to: The 2026 midterm election was not honest: some early voting "dumps" were so large that it was impossible to win no matter how many people voted, and the machines mattered more than the voters.
Full statement and sources
Pod Save America co-host Jon Favreau responds to Trump's post by saying it took a few days for the reality of the "electoral annihilation" to reach Trump.
After the statement
Favreau's post describes the midterm results as an electoral annihilation.
Jon Favreau's post on Trump's claim about the midterm election · Jon FavreauPost on X, November 9, 2026, 10:24 a.m. EST, quoting a post with the text of Trump's postWhy this label?
The reference point is Trump's November 9, 2026 claim that the midterm election was not honest because of large early-vote counts and machines. Favreau treats the result as a real electoral defeat and presents the post as Trump's reaction to it, which disputes the claim that the election was dishonest.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(7)
Original text
Trump's Truth Social post asking whether the 2026 midterm election was honest
Relevant passage: Full post, November 9, 2026, 10:07 a.m. EST
About this source
Trump asks whether anybody believes the election was honest and how the polls could be so wrong, writes that some early voting "dumps" were so large that it was impossible to win, and says it is all about the machines.
- Author
- Donald J. Trump
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Jon Favreau's post on Trump's claim about the midterm election
About this source
The Pod Save America co-host's post on X, quoting a post by Aaron Rupar that carries the text of Trump's November 9 Truth Social post about the midterm election.
- Author
- Jon Favreau
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Jake Tapper's post on Trump's claim about the midterm election, citing the Texas results
About this source
The CNN anchor's post on X, which attaches a screenshot of Trump's November 9 Truth Social post and refers to the Texas results.
- Author
- Jake Tapper
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Megyn Kelly's post replying to Trump's question about the midterm election
About this source
Megyn Kelly's post on X, which attaches a screenshot of Trump's November 9 Truth Social post about the midterm election.
- Author
- Megyn Kelly
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Chuck Schumer's post calling Trump's election claims a return to election denialism
About this source
The Senate Democratic leader's post on X responding to Trump's post about the midterm election.
- Author
- Chuck Schumer
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
The New York Times: Trump veers back into claims of rigged election for midterms
Relevant passage: Full article (New York Times story carried by The Philadelphia Inquirer)
About this source
New York Times report of November 9, 2026, carried in full by The Philadelphia Inquirer. It says Trump said on election night that he was absolutely willing to accept the results, that he shared posts questioning the results on Saturday, November 7, and quotes his November 9 post and Megyn Kelly's reply.
- Author
- Luke Broadwater
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Al Jazeera: Trump reverses stance, alleges fraud in recent US midterm elections
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
Al Jazeera report of November 9, 2026 on Trump's post, his earlier statements accepting the results, a Pew Research analysis of pre-election polling, and responses from Chuck Schumer and Megyn Kelly.
- Author
- Al Jazeera Staff
- Published
- Accessed
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Trump questions whether the midterm election was honest, pointing to early-vote counts and machines; Schumer and Megyn Kelly push back
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/trump-questions-2026-midterm-election-honest-machines
The Dispute Index. "Trump questions whether the midterm election was honest, pointing to early-vote counts and machines; Schumer and Megyn Kelly push back". First published: 2026-11-12. Last updated: 2026-11-13. https://disputeindex.com/cases/trump-questions-2026-midterm-election-honest-machines