Week in Politics: Trump’s speech; midterm elections; Todd Blanche and Jay Clayton : NPR
NPR Topics: Politics — 2026-07-18 06:42:00 — www.npr.org
Trump’s Election Security Claims Lack Substance as He Pushes SAVE Act
With just over three months until the November midterms, President Trump is drawing attention to issues that are not top priorities for most voters, according to a recent NPR analysis. In a Thursday night speech on election security, Trump suggested he would reveal new information, but NPR reports that nothing actually new was presented.
Deflecting Attention and Pushing Legislation
Trump’s remarks appeared aimed at deflecting attention from other pressing news, including renewed conflict with Iran, recent ICE shootings, and the ongoing controversy surrounding the Epstein files. The Epstein issue, in particular, has complicated the confirmation process for Trump’s former private attorney, Todd Blanche, as attorney general. Many Trump supporters remain frustrated by his unfulfilled pledge to release all Epstein files upon returning to office.
The core of Trump’s speech was a push for the SAVE Act, a bill he supports that would increase requirements for voter registration and restrict voting by mail. This legislative focus comes as Trump’s approval rating has dropped below 40% in major national polls—a warning sign for his party ahead of the midterms.
Election Denials and Lack of Evidence
Trump’s influence over his party remains strong, with nominees for key positions, such as Todd Blanche and Jay Clayton, feeling compelled to support or at least entertain Trump’s ongoing election denials. Despite this, the excerpt notes that even some of Trump’s own allies have admitted they do not have evidence of votes being flipped in previous elections, including 2020.
Moving Away from Voters’ Priorities
As Trump and his party focus on issues like the SAVE Act and election security, they are moving away from the interests that matter most to voters. Economic concerns, such as higher gas and food prices resulting from the war with Iran, are likely to persist and remain more relevant to the electorate.
Conclusion
President Trump’s recent actions and statements highlight a pattern of focusing on issues and claims that lack substantiation and do not align with the top concerns of voters. As the midterms approach, the gap between Trump’s agenda and voter priorities may have significant consequences for his party at the polls.