House Speaker Johnson Echoes Trump’s Fraud Claim While Unable to Prove California Ballot Issues

Updated 2026-02-04 19:36:13+00:00 (10 articles)

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US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, speaks to reporters at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 3, 2026. Source Full size
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US President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 2, 2026. (Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
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President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, February 2, 2026, in Washington. Source Full size
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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters and members of the media at Mar-a-Lago on February 1, 2026 in Palm Beach, Florida. Source Full size
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File image: Early morning voters line up to cast their ballots on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at a North Jackson, Miss., precinct. Source Full size
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US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, speaks to reporters at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 3, 2026. Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

File image: Early morning voters line up to cast their ballots on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at a North Jackson, Miss., precinct. Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, February 2, 2026, in Washington. Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

US President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 2, 2026. (Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters and members of the media at Mar-a-Lago on February 1, 2026 in Palm Beach, Florida. Source Full size
Image: AP

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Johnson Repeats Trump’s California Claim and Admits No Evidence On Feb. 4, 2026, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that “some states – like California – keep elections open for weeks after Election Day,” mirroring former President Donald Trump’s allegation that later‑counted ballots erased early Republican leads, and he acknowledged he cannot substantiate any fraud because it occurred “upstream” [1][2].

California’s Mail‑In Timeline Explains Slower Tallies California law permits mail‑in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be received up to seven days later, resulting in the state processing about 13 million of roughly 16.1 million 2024 votes after Election Day; a 2025 law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom merely accelerates county tabulation without altering the voting deadline [1]; Merced County registrar Mel Levey confirmed the 2024 close race was fairly canvassed and invited Johnson to observe, noting no recount was requested [1].

Trump Calls for “Nationalized” Elections Tied to SAVE Act In a Feb. 3, 2026 interview with Dan Bongino, Trump urged Republicans to “take over the voting” in at least 15 jurisdictions, linking the push to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship and a national voter‑ID standard; the White House framed his remarks as support for the SAVE proposal rather than a presidential power grab [3][5][6][9].

Constitutional Scholars Declare Federal Takeover Unlawful Legal experts and former judges cited Article I, §4 of the Constitution, which assigns election administration to state legislatures, concluding that a presidential directive to “nationalize” voting lacks any legal basis and would require congressional action to amend [3][4][6][9].

Republicans Advance the MEGA Act Aligning with Trump’s Agenda Rep. Bryan Steil introduced the Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act (H.R. 7300) on Feb. 3, 2026, proposing nationwide photo‑ID, citizenship verification, bans on universal vote‑by‑mail and ranked‑choice voting, and mandatory paper ballots; the bill gathered 38 Republican co‑sponsors after Trump’s nationalization plea, while Democrats and Senate leader Chuck Schumer denounced it as unconstitutional and likely to suppress voter participation [7][8][10].

Sources

Timeline

Jan 30, 2026 – Republicans unveil the 120‑page “Make Elections Great Again Act,” which would require voter photo ID, citizenship verification at registration, ban universal vote‑by‑mail and ranked‑choice voting, and set a 2027 implementation timeline; Rep. Bryan Steil says the bill will give Americans confidence that elections are run with integrity [10].

Jan 2026 – Federal agents execute a court‑authorized search of Fulton County, Georgia’s election hub as part of a 2020‑election probe, prompting Trump to label Atlanta “horrible corruption on elections” [4].

Feb 2, 2026 – On “The Dan Bongino Show,” Trump urges Republicans to “nationalize” elections, telling them to “take over the voting in at least 15 jurisdictions” and repeats unsubstantiated claims of widespread 2020 fraud [9].

Feb 3, 2026 – Trump repeats his nationalization call in a Dan Bongino interview, proposing a federal takeover of voting; constitutional scholars note the Elections Clause bars presidential authority to dictate election procedures [3].

Feb 3, 2026 – After Trump’s plea, 14 additional Republicans sign onto the Make Elections Great Again Act, raising its co‑sponsor count to 38 and signaling growing legislative momentum [8].

Feb 3, 2026 – Lawyers and former judge declare Trump’s proposal “blatantly unconstitutional,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calls it “outlandishly illegal” and warns it would violate the Constitution [7].

Feb 3, 2026 – House Administration Committee Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil files H.R. 7300 (the MEGA Act) during a pro‑forma session, seeking nationwide voter‑ID, citizenship‑verification, and mail‑ballot deadline standards [6].

Feb 4, 2026 – House Speaker Mike Johnson tells reporters California “holds elections open for weeks after Election Day,” echoing Trump’s fraud narrative, and admits he cannot prove the alleged fraud [2][5].

Feb 4, 2026 – Trump ties his nationalization remarks to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt frames his comments as support for a federal voter‑ID and citizenship‑proof bill [1][4].

Feb 4, 2026 – California’s 2025 law speeds county tabulation but does not change voting deadlines; the state still allows mail‑in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted up to seven days later [2].

Feb 4, 2026 – DOJ lawsuits seek voter rolls from Democratic states while Democrats flip a Texas Senate seat, intensifying the election‑security debate ahead of the November 2026 midterms [3].

Feb 4, 2026 – The MEGA Act would take effect in 2027, mandating voter photo ID, citizenship verification, auditable paper ballots, and banning universal vote‑by‑mail and ranked‑choice voting nationwide [6][8].

Feb 4, 2026 – The administration launches a rare mid‑decade redistricting campaign aimed at gaining additional House seats before the 2026 midterms, linking the effort to its broader election‑reform agenda [4].

Feb 4, 2026 – Senate Majority Leader John Thune backs voter‑ID measures but opposes any federal takeover of elections, highlighting a split within GOP leadership over the proposal [5].

Feb 4, 2026 – Election scholars warn that a federal takeover would disrupt the decentralized system designed to prevent fraud and likely violate the Constitution, making congressional action unlikely [3].

Feb 4, 2026 – The looming November 2026 midterm elections provide the backdrop for GOP pushes to pass the SAVE Act and MEGA Act, framing the reforms as essential to protecting Republican majorities [7].

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