National security veterans quietly counsel states on guarding midterms from possible Trump interference

Over the past several months, a small circle of roughly ten current and former national-security officials, many with Defense Department backgrounds, has been meeting privately with governors, election administrators and congressional staff in about ten states where close midterm contests could decide control of Congress. The group, which remains unnamed publicly, tells state leaders that the Trump administration might exploit federal authority—ranging from sending troops or immigration agents to polling places to challenging results on unsubstantiated fraud claims—to sway the November vote.

Their briefings focus on raising awareness, especially among Republicans, and on practical steps to fortify election systems against such federal pressure. Participants say their analysis is based on public statements and personal assessment, not classified intelligence, and they act outside any official capacity. The effort reflects heightened anxiety that the president could repeat tactics used after the 2020 election, including attempts to overturn results, and underscores broader concerns among election officials about federal overreach.