Trump takes extraordinary steps to target midterms, alarming critics

Key Points:

• President Trump is using unprecedented federal government resources and actions to influence the 2024 midterm elections, including taxpayer-funded TV ads promoting himself, sending government checks to millions of Americans, and directing federal agents to investigate voter rolls.
• Trump has pursued controversial election strategies such as mid-decade redistricting to favor Republicans, executive orders imposing new voting restrictions, and efforts to remove noncitizens from voter rolls, raising legal and ethical concerns.
• Despite Trump's aggressive tactics and claims of widespread voter fraud, courts and Congress have blocked many of his election reforms, and current polling indicates Democrats are leading in key battleground states with a strong chance to control Congress.
• Trump and some of his allies have suggested extreme measures, including declaring a national emergency, deploying ICE agents to polling places, or invoking the Insurrection Act, though military officials have denied plans to send troops to polls.
• Election experts and Democrats warn that Trump's actions undermine trust in the democratic process and could set a dangerous precedent, though legal challenges and institutional checks have so far prevented major disruptions to the election.