Trump says he would "do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections" when asked about ICE or the National Guard at voting locations

Donald TrumpPresident of the United States

Mixed or conditional

President Trump answers a question about federal agents at polling places, May 12, 2026.

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Video: PBS News (@NewsHour on X). Excerpt used for news reporting and commentary

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Asked by a PBS News reporter whether he would send the National Guard or ICE to voting locations in November, Trump said, "I'd do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections".

“I'd do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections. We have to have honest elections.”

Original post

Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Post by PBS News (@NewsHour) on X, May 12, 2026: Trump on federal agents at polling placesComplete post 2054282657228279891 with video clip, 19:28 UTC on May 12, 2026

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A voter uses a blue voting booth at the Denver Central Library.
Credit: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images via NPR

Where this statement fits

Should ICE and other armed federal agents be allowed at or near polling places in the 2026 election?

Since February 2026, federal officials have given differing answers about whether ICE and other armed federal agents could be at or near polling places during the November 3 election. On September 1, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE would be at a polling place only if there is a threat to it or agents are serving a warrant, and DHS told Politico that ICE is not planning operations targeting polling locations but that arrests could result if an active public safety threat endangered one. On September 10, 18 and 23, 2026, LULAC and other groups, a coalition including the NAACP, and Democratic leaders and party committees sued separately in federal court in Washington. They allege that the administration's statements and actions violate 18 U.S.C. 592, Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, or both. As of September 25, the court dockets show no motion for a preliminary injunction and no answer or motion to dismiss from the federal defendants, and no court has ruled.

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Source and context

Original post

Post by PBS News (@NewsHour) on X, May 12, 2026: Trump on federal agents at polling places (opens in a new tab)Complete post 2054282657228279891 with video clip, 19:28 UTC on May 12, 2026

About this source

PBS News post of a video clip in which reporter Liz Landers asks President Trump whether he would send the National Guard or ICE to voting locations in November. The clip runs about 38 seconds. The quoted wording is our transcription of the video audio.

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Before the quotation

PBS News reporter Liz Landers asked Trump on Tuesday, May 12, about the possibility of federal agents at polling places during the November midterm elections.

After the quotation

PBS News noted that DHS had told state officials earlier in the year that ICE agents would not be present at voting locations during the midterm elections. A reporter then asked whether he was not ruling that out, and his brief reply is hard to make out on the recording.

How this statement is classified

Mixed or conditional

The label describes this statement's response within the context above.

Why this label?

The fixed reference point is the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE at or near polling places. Trump neither said agents would nor would not be sent to voting locations, and tied any action to doing "anything necessary" for honest elections. That express, unresolved condition fits mixed or conditional. Explicitly declines loses because he answered in general terms instead of refusing the question.

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The Dispute Index
Title
Trump says he would "do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections" when asked about ICE or the National Guard at voting locations
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https://disputeindex.com/events/2690-asked-by-a-pbs-news-reporter-whether-he

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The Dispute Index. "Trump says he would "do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections" when asked about ICE or the National Guard at voting locations". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2690-asked-by-a-pbs-news-reporter-whether-he