Donald Trump Could Use 'National Emergency' To Cancel Midterm Elections, Marjorie Taylor Greene Claims

In a startling and controversial statement, former Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has disclosed that President Donald Trump could declare a 'national emergency' as a pretext to cancel or delay the US midterm elections scheduled for November 2026.

Greene's remarks, made in response to rumours, have led to new discussion about the limits of executive power in the United States and the health of American democracy.

Her comments arrive against a backdrop of massive tensions over foreign policy, with the Trump administration's recent military actions in the Middle East cited by critics as potential catalysts for such a dramatic constitutional manoeuvre. Greene, once an outspoken ally of Trump, has become a vocal critic in recent months.

Greene's Claim and Its Context

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Republican representative from Georgia, responded to a suggestion on the social media platform X that President Trump might exploit a crisis, including the ongoing conflict with Iran, to declare a national emergency and halt the midterm elections. The idea originated from a post by conservative podcaster Shannon Joy, who asked rhetorically whether Trump would use a manufactured crisis as justification for such a move. Greene replied that she could 'see it,' adding the remark was 'insane' but nonetheless plausible.

This exchange led to a lot of discussion online and in the political press, partly because Greene has recently fallen out with Trump, seemingly over his approach to foreign policy. Greene has sharply criticised the administration's actions against Iran and accused the president of abandoning core 'America First' principles. Greene's suggestion also plays into bigger worries about electoral security and presidential overreach.

Critics of the Trump administration point to rumoured drafts of an executive order made by right-wingers that could be used to assert federal control over elections, including citing alleged foreign interference as a justification for extraordinary measures. According to reports, such a draft document would rely on claims of interference by foreign powers, despite a lack of credible evidence.

The Reality of Election Law

Despite the sensational nature of Greene's claim, it is important to stress that the United States president does not possess the unilateral authority to cancel or postpone federal elections. The US Constitution explicitly vests the power to determine the 'times, places, and manner' of elections in Congress, subject to limited judicial oversight. Elections have been held without interruption through major national crises in the past, including world wars and civil strife, illustrating the robustness of the democratic process.

The notion of declaring a national emergency to avert a scheduled election also raises serious legal questions. The National Emergencies Act, which presidents have invoked for various issues ranging from border security to international sanctions, does not grant authority over election schedules. Any attempt to cancel or significantly alter an election through emergency powers would almost certainly trigger immediate legal challenges and may even require the Supreme Court's intervention.

In addition to legal barriers, there is also a big political resistance to the idea of cancelling elections in the United States. Both Democratic and Republican leaders would obviously point to the importance of preserving electoral integrity, even as tensions rise over claims about voting systems and foreign interference. President Trump himself has reportedly denied any intention to declare a national emergency around the midterms, casting such ideas as conjecture rather than policy.