President Trump said Friday there will be voter ID requirements for the midterm elections “whether approved by Congress or not,” vowing to issue an executive order if legislation fails.

President Trump said Friday there will be voter ID requirements for the midterm elections “whether approved by Congress or not,” vowing to issue an executive order if legislation fails.

President Donald Trump said Friday that voter identification requirements will be in place for the upcoming midterm elections, pledging to act unilaterally if Congress does not approve related legislation.

Speaking at a campaign-style event, Donald Trump declared that “there will be voter ID requirements for the midterms, whether approved by Congress or not,” adding that he is prepared to sign an executive order to enforce the measure if lawmakers fail to pass a bill.

The president argued that stricter identification rules are necessary to safeguard election integrity and restore public confidence in the voting system. “We have to protect our elections,” Trump said, reiterating longstanding claims that voter fraud remains a concern, despite studies and court rulings showing such incidents to be rare.

Democratic leaders swiftly criticized the proposal, questioning the scope of presidential authority over federal election procedures, which are largely administered by states. Some legal experts also noted that implementing nationwide voter ID requirements through executive action could face immediate court challenges.

Congress has debated voter ID legislation in previous sessions without reaching consensus. While many Republican lawmakers support stricter identification standards, Democrats generally argue that such requirements risk disenfranchising eligible voters, particularly low-income individuals, seniors, and minorities.

It remains unclear what specific mechanisms an executive order would employ or how it would interact with existing state election laws. The White House said further details would be released in the coming weeks.