The Dictatorship
The president’s feud with Pope Leo exposes Trump’s ignorance of faith
ByMichael Steele
President Donald Trump’s feud with Pope Leo XIV has only escalated since the president posted an AI-generated image of himself Sunday night dressed like a Christlike healer, laying hands on the forehead of a sick man as light pours from his fingers. The image was removed after backlash, but the message seemed clear: In Trump’s imagination, he is not just president — he’s the savior.
Asked about it, Trump insisted he thought it showed him “as a doctor.” Right. Because apparently doctors now make house calls dressed like Jesus.
The Catholic Church does not exist to flatter political leaders. It exists to challenge them.
Let’s be serious for a moment. Trump’s feud with the pope is not just another political spat. On one side is a president who treats faith like a loyalty test. On the other is the spiritual leader of a two thousand year old moral tradition.
And it’s a tradition I know personally. Before I was lieutenant governor of Maryland or chair of the Republican National Committee, I was an Augustinian seminarian at Villanova, the same seminary Pope Leo attended. So I know something about the church Trump seems to think he can bully into silence.
The Catholic Church does not exist to flatter political leaders. It exists to challenge them. This has been particularly true since the papacies of Benedict XV who made moral appeals and efforts at mediation during WWI; or Pope Pius XII who pressed the Vatican’s neutrality during WWII while engaging in quiet diplomacy creating rescue networks across Europe. That role has not changed in the modern era as we have witnessed popes from John Paul II to Leo XIV confronting power on war, poverty and human dignity, because the Gospel demands it.
So when Trump complains that the pope shouldn’t criticize himwhat he’s really revealing is a basic delusion: He believes everyone must see the world exactly the way he does. But the church does not bend to presidents. History shows the danger when religious institutions cozy up to political power, including the tragic failures of some churches in Nazi Germany, which is precisely why the Catholic Church’s moral voice must remain independent of it.
It’s possible there’s something else at play here: jealousy. Trump cannot stand that there exists an American on the world stage more popular than he is. And the pope, inconveniently, is exactly that. The idea that millions look to a humble priest in a white cassock instead of a gold-plated strongman could conceivably be unbearable for Trump. As the world confronts economic, political and cultural stresses exacerbated by wars in Africa, Ukraine and now the Middle East, Catholic teaching calls all of us to welcome migrants, lift up the poor and reject cruelty. As the pope said very clearly, “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”
Trump’s politics misread history and revolve around his push for mass deportations, economic plunder and war.
Leo, to his credit, did not blink. Speaking aboard the papal plane Monday as he traveled to Africa, he said plainly he has no fear of speaking out. The church, he reminded the world, is not in the business of politics as Trump understands it. Its mission is to proclaim the Gospel and to be a peacemaker. In other words, the pope leaned into something simple and radical: love thy neighbor. Care for the vulnerable. Seek peace instead of war. Whether you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist or no faith at all, those principles, that moral code, speak to our shared humanity.
Trump treats everything, especially politics, like a loyalty test. It is not enough for members of his party or Cabinet to agree with him; they must submit.
Trump, meanwhile, keeps turning religion into a personal branding exercise. We have seen the pattern before: the staged photo outside St. John’s Church holding a Bible after protesters were cleared, the reposted images of Jesus supposedly sitting beside him in court. Trump treats religion as a prop, something he pulls out when it serves his personal or political interests.
Trump treats everything, especially politics, like a loyalty test. It is not enough for members of his party or Cabinet to agree with him; they must submit. And as we recently learned, he expects the same from the church. What Trump wants is a pope who falls in line.
Even Christ never demanded that kind of loyalty.
And that, more than any AI image or deleted social media post, is the real problem: Trump does not just misunderstand this pope as the Vicar of Christ, he misunderstands the danger of state overreach into spiritual domains — not to mention the history, power and the nature of the Catholic Church itself.
Michael Steele
Michael Steele is a co-host of “The Weeknight,” which airs Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on MS NOW. He is a former lieutenant governor of Maryland and a former chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Israel struck Iran on Monday after being targeted by missiles, while a U.S. military base in Saudi Arabia came under fire in the most serious exchange of hostilities since an April ceasefire, raising the possibility of a return to heavy fighting and complicating mediation efforts to end the war.
Today’s live updates have ended. See what you missed below, and find more at apnews.com.
What to know:
- The Iranian military’s joint command said that it is halting its offensive operations hours after Israel and Iran began trading fire early Monday in retaliatory strikes that threatened to drag the wider Middle East back into a full-scale regional war.
- In a brief statement, Netanyahu said the fighting has stopped “after we hit the terror regime in Tehran.” But he said, “If the terror regime in Iran makes the mistake and returns to attacking us, we will respond with force.”
- Netanyahu also said that Israel is continuing to operate against Iran’s allythe Lebanese militant group Hezbollahand that Israel “has full right to self-defense and we will exercise it to the full extent necessary.”
More from Netanyahu
The Israeli prime minister’s brief statement added that “right now, the fire has been halted.” It was his first public statement since Iran fired missiles at Israel late Sunday. They were intercepted.
Netanyahu asserted Israel’s right to self-defense, “and I say this with appreciation and respect in my good conversations with my friend President Trump.” Netanyahu appears to have openly defied Trump with a strike in Beirut on Sunday and then retaliatory attacks against Iran.
JUST IN: Israel’s Netanyahu acknowledges halt in fighting with Iran but vows to respond ‘with force’ to future attacks.
Syria reopens its airspace
The civil aviation authority also says operations at Damascus International Airport have resumed.
Israeli strikes on Iran wound 15
Israeli strikes on Iran Monday wounded at least 15 people, the National Emergency Medical Organization said in a statement published by the Iranian official news agency.
No fatalities have been reported so far, the organization said. The statement did not specify whether the wounded were civilians or military personnel, noting that 14 of the injured were from Mahshahr in the province of Khuzestan, while one was from Tehran.
Pakistan’s prime minister calls for restraint
Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed concern over the recent surge in violence in the Middle East and urged all parties to “exercise restraint.”
In a post on X, Sharif said the latest escalation was “a stark reminder of the dangers associated with a tenuous ceasefire and the unbearable consequences it may lead to.”
Sharif also called for diplomacy over further escalation.
Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 5 people, including a child
Israeli strikes on Monday killed at least five people, including a child, across Gaza, according to hospital officials.
A strike killed two people in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Monday morning, according to Nasser Hospital, while another left three people dead in Jabaliya in northern Gaza, including Jad Soleiman, an 8-year-old boy, according to Shifa Hospital. Several were also wounded.
Jad’s father, Yusuf, clutched his son’s backpack and kissed his face as the child’s body, wrapped in a white burial shroud, lay before him.
“He was coming home from school,” Soleiman said. “I ran to him and found him lying down with his bag still on. It’s covered in his blood. He was wounded and bleeding from the neck. He was taking his last breaths.”
Gaza City and Deir al-Balah in central Gaza were also hit. Casualty figures were not immediately available.
The Israeli army said it struck some Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives, adding it would give further details later.
The attacks were the latest in a series of strikes that have hit homes and shelters across Gaza since October’s fragile ceasefire that sought to halt the more than two-year war.
US tells Iran no more Israeli attacks if Tehran halts strikes, official says
The U.S. told Iran there would be no more attacks by Israel if Tehran halted its missile strikes, and that Israel has agreed to halt attacks for now, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The White House and Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israeli army says 3 projectiles fired at Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon
The army said two projectiles were intercepted, while one landed near the soldiers, adding there were no injuries.
The launches triggered air raid sirens in northern Israel.
Schools across Israel will remain closed for a second day
Education Minister Yoav Kisch said in a post on X Monday afternoon that schools would not open on Tuesday.
On Sunday evening, Israel’s military updated its guidelines for civilians, limiting large gatherings and canceling school across the country for the first time since the earlier round of fighting with Iran in April.
Kisch said the Ministry of Education aims to reopen classrooms on Wednesday under guidelines that would ensure students have access to close shelter.
Iraq reopens its airspace
Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority announced that the country’s airspace has reopened after earlier announcing a 72-hour closure in response to the renewed exchange of fire between Israel and Iran.
Syrian man finds a missile partially buried in his field
A missile lay partially buried in a field on the outskirts of the Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday, surrounded by scorched earth after overnight exchanges of fire between Israel and Iran sent projectiles across the region.
The missile’s impact left a blackened patch of ground where a fire broke out, according to the field’s owner, Mahmoud Ataya. He said residents heard a loud explosion during the night but did not immediately know what had happened. When they went to put out the fire, they found half of the missile protruding from the ground. No casualties were reported.
State media in Syria reported explosions in the skies over Damascus Sunday night, attributing them to Israeli air defenses intercepting missiles fired from Iran. Associated Press journalists in the Syrian capital also reported hearing loud explosions overnight
Iranian military’s joint command says it is halting its offensive operations
The Iranian military’s joint command said Monday it was halting its offensive operations after Israel and Iran exchanged fire in their first attacks since the U.S. struck a ceasefire with Tehran two months ago.
The joint command said that if Israel or its supporters carried out any further “aggression and hostile acts,” including in southern Lebanon, then “much more severe and crushing measures than before will follow.”
JUST IN: Iranian military’s joint command says it is halting its offensive operations after Israel and Iran exchanged fire
EU approves sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities
The European Union’s foreign policy chief said the 27-member bloc appro ved sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities involved in disrupting transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Kaja Kallas said after a meeting with EU defense ministers on Monday that this is the first time the EU has applied a new freedom-of-navigation sanctions system “and where necessary will apply it again.”
“Ministers were clear today that Iran’s actions are unacceptable,” Kallas said.
Trump claims negotiations are ongoing
Trump later posted again to his Truth Social website, insisting that both Israel and Iran were “looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE!”
He claimed negotiations were ongoing, “subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.”
Frustrated Israelis return to war routines
A vendor looks on from the window of his shop at a local street market following air raid sirens warning of incoming Iranian missiles in Haifa, northern Israel, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A vendor looks on from the window of his shop at a local street market following air raid sirens warning of incoming Iranian missiles in Haifa, northern Israel, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Israelis returned on Monday to war routines, established during the last round of fighting with Iran, with a sense of resigned apathy.
Schools were closed across the country, but many businesses remained open. In Tel Aviv, streets were more subdued than on a regular weekday, but many were still shopping for groceries and running errands after a morning that sent people to shelters multiple times for the first time since April.
Many blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the renewal of missiles from Iran.
“The behavior of the government and the prime minister and the way he’s brought us into unending wars and his constant lies to his infantile base don’t help me sleep well at night,” said 63-year-old retired economist Moshe Regev.
Israel says it targeted Iranian petrochemical facilities
The Israeli military said it targeted petrochemical facilities in Mahshahr to hit sites used to produce “unique materials that serve as critical components for the development of ballistic missiles.”
What some Tehran residents say about the war
Some Tehran residents said they were bracing for a potentially prolonged conflict, after Iran and Israel exchanged strikes on Monday.
“I think Iran did a good thing. … I think this war is going to continue for a long time, and we won’t give up until victory,” said Reza Khorramgah, 37.
Another resident, Mohammad Ghodrati, said that “all Iranians support peace” and that his country has not sought war, but has at times been forced to respond to conflicts “imposed” on it.
“I think ultimately if we want Iran to be great and proud, we must pay the price,” he added.
Trump says Israel and Iran must stop shooting
In his first comments since Iran and Israel traded fire, Trump wrote online: “Israel and Iran must immediately stop ‘shooting.’”
Iraq closes airspace for 72 hours
Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority on Monday said the closure was a “precautionary measure” to preserve the safety and security of civil aviation.
It added that the decision will be subject to continuous review and reassessment and airlines and relevant sides will be notified of any new developments.
29 Lebanese army members have been killed in Israeli strikes since March
Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos released the toll Monday, two days after an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed three members of the Lebanese army, including a brigadier general and a captain.
Morcos said that since the Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2, three police, one member of the General Security Directorate and 13 state security members have been killed in Israeli attacks. Also killed was a member of the parliament’s security.
A total of 3,613 people have been killed, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The Israeli military has said it operates against Hezbollah and not against the Lebanese army.
Syria temporary closes Damascus airport as Iran and Israel trade fire
Damascus International Airport will remain closed until 11 p.m. (2200 GMT) Monday.
Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation closed the country’s southern airspace, which includes Damascus. The measure is related to the latest exchange of fire between Iran and Israel, it said.
Air defenses in Tehran and other cities open fire
Just before noon, air defense systems around Tehran and multiple Iranian cities opened fire, with some claims of attacks ongoing.
Oil prices rise sharply
Oil prices surged as Israel launched airstrikes early Monday targeting central and western Iran in response to missile fire.
Brent crude, the international standard, jumped $4.40 to $97.49 a barrel. Benchmark U.S. crude surged $3.95 to $94.49 a barrel.
The latest spate of attacks was straining efforts to end the conflict as a tentative deal reached last week to extend a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has not yet been finalized.
Israel says it targeted Iranian missile launchers
Israel’s military said it targeted truck-based surface-to-air missile launchers in its strikes Monday on Iran.
It said Iran had deployed the systems across the country in a bid to restore its capabilities that were degraded earlier in the war.
Iran says US to blame for any escalation caused by Israel
An Iranian official warned Monday that the United States is “responsible for the consequences of any escalation” in the Middle East caused by Israel.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei made the comment in a briefing with journalists on Monday in Tehran.
“No one believes that the Israeli regime would take any action without coordination with the United States,” Baghaei said. “The United States bears responsibility for the Israeli regime’s aggression, and it will also be responsible for the consequences of any escalation in tensions.”
Israel’s rescue services says third wave of attacks caused no injuries so far
Israel’s rescue services said there were not any known injuries from the latest round of missiles from Iran.
Rescue services are searching a number of sites for possible fragments from interceptions.
Israel warns people to take shelter
The call came as the military warned a third barrage of missiles was incoming from Iran.
JUST IN: Israel warns a third barrage of missiles is incoming from Iran
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim missile attack on Israel
The Iran-backed rebels also said that Israel-affiliated vessels would again be a target in the Red Sea.
The statement from Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree was broadcast on the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel.
It’s another new escalation as the nominal ceasefire in the Iran war is being challenged by crossfire between Israel and Iran.
JUST IN: Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim missile attack on Israel, say Israel-affiliated vessels now a target again in Red Sea
Iran claims attacks, says their missiles targeted two military bases in Israel
Iran has claimed the attacks, saying their missiles targeted two military bases in Israel.
The paramilitary Revolutionary Guard described the attack as being part of Operation Nasr, or “Victory.” The Guard said it launched the missile fire after Israel targeted radar sites in three areas of Iran, without elaborating.
Israeli military strikes petrochemical complex in southwestern Iran
The Israeli military says it struck a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, in southwestern Iran. It did not provide details of the attack
Earlier, Iran’s semiofficial Fars and Mehr news agencies said Israeli strikes hit a petrochemical factory in city of Mahshahr in Khuzestan province. It did not elaborate on the damage done.
Israel issues all clear after a second wave of Iranian missiles
Israel issued an all-clear after warning of a second wave of inbound missiles from Iran.
It was the second alert without any interceptions being heard in the country.
The Iranian fire comes after Israel launched strikes on Iran early Monday in the most-serious crossfire since an April 8 ceasefire was reached in the Iran war.
Israeli military warns second round of Iranian missiles inbound
Israel’s military warned the public Monday that a second wave of Iranian missiles was targeting the country.
It urged the public to seek shelter.
The Iranian fire comes after Israel launched strikes on Iran early Monday in the most-serious crossfire since an April 8 ceasefire was reached in the Iran war.
JUST IN: Israel says a second wave of Iranian missiles inbound
Sirens sound near Israel’s main nuclear research site
Israel said it detected a barrage of missiles from Iran toward central and southern Israel on Monday morning. Loud explosions were heard over central Israel, and missiles also headed for southern Israel, near the city of Dimona and Arad.
The remote desert city of Dimona houses Israel’s main nuclear research center, which opened in 1958. Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weaponsthough its leaders neither confirm nor deny this.
Iran targeted Dimona and Arad during the last round of conflict, injuring more than two dozen people.
JUST IN: Explosions could be heard in central Israel as Israeli air defenses sought to intercept the incoming Iranian fire
JUST IN: Israel says Iran launches missiles targeting it
Israel cancels school as conflict escalates
People take shelter as air raid sirens warning of incoming Iranian missiles in Ramat Gan, Israel, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
People take shelter as air raid sirens warning of incoming Iranian missiles in Ramat Gan, Israel, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Israel’s military updated its guidelines for civilians on Sunday evening, limiting large gatherings and canceling school across the country.
It is the first time school has been canceled across Israel since the earlier round of fighting with Iran in April, though schools in Israel’s northern border had been closed for much longer due to the threat of Hezbollah fire.
Israel’s rescue services said there were no reports of casualties or impacts from Yemen missile launch
Israel says missile launched from Yemen
Israel said Monday that it detected a missile launched from Yemen targeting the country. Sirens sounded across Israel after the Yemen missile fire warning.
Yemen is home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The Houthis have fired missiles at Israel during the Israel-Hamas war and later, but haven’t been fully involved in the Iran war.
Saudi Arabia sounds missile alerts
Saudi Arabia sounded missile alert sirens Monday morning in an area home to an air base that hosts U.S. forces. Saudi state media reported the alert around its Al Kharj governorate, home to Prince Sultan Air Base.
It did not elaborate. The alert came after Israel launched strikes targeting Iran.
President Donald Trump was “thunderously booed” Monday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City when he was shown on the Jumbotron ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finalsaccording to the White House press pool report.
The stadium’s reaction comes after some New York Knicks fans warned he would not receive a warm welcome during the home game matchup against the San Antonio Spurs — despite New York City being the president’s hometown.
The White House press pool report described the boos as “loud and long” and noted the reaction “quickly changed to cheers when the camera quickly panned to [Knicks guard] Jalen Brunson on the court.”
Trump was “standing with his hand over his heart” during the National Anthem as he was met with boos, the pool report said, adding that he was standing between his granddaughter Kai Trump and Knicks owner James Dolan, who “seemed to be smirking at the boos.”
The president’s posse included several administration officials, also watching in the suite, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
At least one Trump official made a courtside appearance with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick seated next to rappers Fat Joe and famed producer DJ Khaled.
The Knicks came into Monday night’s game leading the series 2-0, and fans are hoping for a sweep. That is, defeating the Spurs in four consecutive games without a single loss. The team is on the precipice of earning its first championship since 1973, but Trump’s attendance has sparked outcry from many fans.
Trump, who was invited to attend by Dolan, is the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game. Security at the arena has been enhanced in response, and fans attending the game have been encouraged to arrive at least two hours before tipoff to allow extra time for TSA-style screening.
To many fans’ disappointment, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the watch party typically held outside MSG during games has been canceled due to Trump’s visit after the mayor, the U.S. Secret Service and the NYPD determined that it would hinder the heightened security measures required for Trump.
Mamdani announced Monday that Bryant Park will serve as a free alternative Knicks watch party location.
The president’s attendance comes against the backdrop of high-stakes elections and international conflict, including the war with Iranwhich has entered its 15th week, marking just over 100 days since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack against the country on Feb. 28. His visit also comes weeks after he declined to attend the wedding of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., citing “a thing called Iran and other things.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Erum Salam is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW, with a focus on how global events and foreign policy shape U.S. politics. She previously was a breaking news reporter for The Guardian.
ByRichard L. Hasen
During normal times, the president of the United States would not routinely claim, without evidence, an epidemic of “voter fraud.” But Donald Trump is on another tirade about supposed fraud — this time in California’s primary elections. If there’s any good news, though, the publicity and pushback against his claims will inoculate the public against similar unsupported charges in November’s midterms, if control of Congress depends upon late-arriving results in the Golden State.
Let’s begin with some obvious points. California’s vote-counting process is notoriously slow. Millions of the state’s voters choose to vote by mail, and election officials’ efforts to confirm that voters have followed all the rules take some time. The state has unusually lenient rules for both the receipt of mail-in ballots (timely postmarked ballots may be counted if election officials receive them within seven days of the election) and for curing defective ballots (such as mail ballots on which a voter forgets to add their signature). Despite the popularity of mail-in ballots, the state has not prioritized saving state resources over a quicker vote count.
Further, it is rather routine that California results show Republican and more conservative candidates doing well in initial tallies, only for Democrats and liberal candidates to appear to “gain” as more ballots are tallied. Voters who have lived in the same place longer, own a home, are white and are wealthier are all more likely to receive and send back their ballots early — and they are also more likely to vote Republican.
President Trump has incessantly fueled beliefs on the right that voter fraud is prevalent in Democratic states.
Think about election tallying this way. You have to be away from your television during the Super Bowl and so you record the game. When you watch it the next day — having avoided hearing the result in between — the game is already over. The winner was the same before you watched and after. It is the same with California’s election ballots: All the ballots were cast by Election Day, the election is over, and we just must wait to learn the final results.
The issue of late-voting Democrats was especially pronounced in last week’s elections. In the Los Angeles mayoral race, polls show many voters undecided between unpopular incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, reality TV star Spencer Pratt (running to her right) and Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman (running to Bass’ left). Bass made it to the runoff, and the first vote totals showed Pratt in second. But late Monday, with 93% of the ballots counted the Associated Press projected that Raman will join Bass in this fall’s general election.
In the state’s gubernatorial primary, the initial results placed Republican Steve Hilton in first, ahead of Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer. As more ballots were processed, Becerra moved into first late Friday. Hilton is still likely to finish in the top two and advance to the general election, but Steyer has not yet been ruled out given the number of outstanding ballots.
This “blue shift” would not be a problem if we lived in normal times. If we have to wait a week or two to find out which candidates will face Bass and Becerra, that’s plenty of time to prepare for November. Unfortunately, President Trump has incessantly fueled beliefs on the right that voter fraud is prevalent in Democratic states, and in particular that California’s slow vote count shows that the system is “crooked.” He did it again last week. It undermines voters’ confidence in our elections’ integrity for no good reason.
And he’s not alone. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told reporters the “efforts are so diabolical and so far upstream it’s impossible to prove. But I think everybody knows instinctively that something is wrong here.” Yes, the alleged voter fraud claimed by Trump and his allies is always the perfect crime: happening on a massive scale yet impossible to detect. It’s quite convenient to have a theory that is completely unfalsifiable.
Some supporters of Pratt have made similar charges without evidence or simply “asked questions” about potential fraud. They only embarrass themselves by showing that either they don’t understand how California’s process works or they are cynical enough to think the public will accept false claims.
Even now, there is much to worry about regarding November’s elections.
If the race for control of the House of Representatives is close in November, the balance of power could well come down to races in California. Media reports on early returns will show Republican candidates “in the lead” but Democrats “gaining” as more votes are counted. Should that come to pass, I fully expect that Trump and his supporters will again cry fraud and try to delegitimize any Democratic victories and the integrity of the election process.
Even now, there is much to worry about regarding November’s elections. Trump’s U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, Bill Essayli, said he is investigating potential fraud in California’s primaries based upon no evidence. This follows the administration’s ongoing probes related to the 2020 election — efforts that could be a test run for the midterms.
The administration is trying to assemble a national citizen database and attempting to forbid the the U.S. Postal Service from returning mailed ballots from voters who are not on approved lists, a matter now being litigated in courts. Both federal law enforcement and cybersecurity officials have reportedly canceled efforts to help state and local election officials secure the 2026 elections.
But Trump has shown his hand and he’s come up short. It is hard to overstate the importance of the exchange on Sunday between Trump and NBC News’ “Meet the Press” anchor Kristen Welker. Speaking about California’s elections, Trump said“They’re crooked just like you’re crooked, your press is crooked. And ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked.” As Welker pushed him repeatedly for evidence, Trump could only repeat his entirely unsupported charges: “There’s tremendous evidence. There’s nothing but evidence.” In the end, he stormed out.
In the long term, California should still do what it can to speed up the vote count; that would help maintain confidence in elections. With enough resources thrown at the problem and commands from the Legislature, election officials can improve their ballot processing time. But serious progress is unlikely before November.
For this year, election officials, the media and even the public all play roles in assuring voters about the fairness and integrity of the process. California election officials have been quite transparent about their processes all along the way, and that should continue. Media outlets should stop reporting which candidate is “in the lead.” This is not an ongoing election; the election is over, and the results are simply “too early to call.”
In response to charges of “voter fraud,” ordinary people can share media, such as the two-minute exchange between Trump and Welkerwhich show the emptiness of the president’s claims.
Rumormongering about California was always likely to be central to the president’s attempts to weaken faith in this year’s elections. But thanks to Trump himself, anyone paying any attention knows that California’s vote count is notoriously slow, that the “blue shift” favoring Democrats routinely happens and that Trump has produced no evidence to support his claims. The boy has cried wolf too many times, and if he tries this again in November, the appropriate response should be repudiation, not panic.
Richard L. Hasen
Richard L. Hasen is professor at UCLA School of Law, where he directs its Safeguarding Democracy Project.
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