Listen to the article
In a renewed display of election-related misinformation, former President Donald Trump has resurrected one of his most puzzling false claims from his first presidency: that Americans need identification to purchase groceries.
Speaking at a breakfast with Republican senators on Wednesday, Trump stated, “All we want is voter ID. You go to a grocery store, you have to give ID. You go to a gas station, you give ID.” This assertion comes as Trump continues to question election legitimacy following Republican defeats in Tuesday’s state and local elections.
The claim is demonstrably false. Americans routinely purchase groceries without showing identification, except in specific circumstances like buying alcohol, tobacco, certain medications, or when paying by personal check. Similarly, millions of Americans purchase gas daily without presenting ID, particularly at self-service pumps where no human interaction is required.
This is not the first time Trump has made this claim. He initially mentioned it in 2018 while advocating for stricter voter ID laws, prompting widespread mockery. When then-White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders was questioned about the statement, she suggested Trump was referring specifically to alcohol or wine purchases.
However, Trump later clarified he was indeed talking about ordinary food items. In a subsequent interview, he specifically mentioned “a box of cereal” requiring identification. Last year, he expanded this false narrative to include “a loaf of bread.”
The former president’s grocery store claims were part of a broader set of election-related falsehoods shared during Wednesday’s breakfast. Trump repeated his assertion that mail-in balloting is “automatically corrupt” – a claim without factual basis. Mail-in voting remains a legitimate method used by eligible voters across the country. While elections experts note that fraud rates are marginally higher with mail-in ballots compared to in-person voting, the overall incidence remains extremely low in major U.S. elections.
Trump also mischaracterized findings from a commission led by former President Jimmy Carter, claiming the group concluded that “if there is mail-in ballots, there will definitely be corruption.” This misrepresents the commission’s actual findings.
The 2005 report from the commission co-chaired by Carter did express concerns about absentee ballots, noting they “remain the largest source of potential voter fraud” and are “vulnerable to abuse.” However, the report never stated that corruption would “definitely” occur with mail-in voting. In fact, it highlighted Oregon’s successful implementation of mail-only elections, noting the state “appears to have avoided significant fraud in its vote-by-mail elections by introducing safeguards to protect ballot integrity, including signature verification.”
The commission also offered recommendations to enhance mail-in ballot security and called for additional research on the practice’s advantages and disadvantages. Before his death in 2024, Carter himself clarified his position in a 2020 statement: “I approve the use of absentee ballots and have been using them for more than five years.”
Trump’s repeated grocery store claims and election misinformation appear designed to cast doubt on electoral processes, particularly as his party faced setbacks in the most recent round of voting. Election officials across the country maintain that Tuesday’s elections proceeded fairly and securely, with no evidence of significant irregularities.
As the 2024 presidential campaign season progresses, fact-checkers continue to monitor such claims that misrepresent common American experiences and electoral processes.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
11 Comments
This is yet another example of how misinformation can spread, even from prominent figures. As engaged citizens, we must remain vigilant in separating fact from fiction, especially when it comes to the foundations of our democracy.
It’s disheartening to see this kind of misinformation continuing to spread. As citizens, we need to be vigilant in fact-checking claims, especially when they come from influential political figures.
This seems like another case of political rhetoric trumping factual reality. Voter ID requirements are a complex issue, but using imaginary grocery store scenarios isn’t a helpful way to debate it.
You’re right, it’s important to have an honest, evidence-based dialogue around voting policies rather than relying on made-up examples.
Fact-checking is crucial, especially for high-profile claims that could influence public opinion. It’s disappointing to see continued efforts to sow doubt about the electoral system.
This is a concerning trend of detaching political rhetoric from objective reality. Voters deserve facts, not fabrications, when it comes to the fundamental right to participate in elections.
I agree, upholding election integrity should be a nonpartisan priority. Spreading falsehoods undermines public trust in the democratic process.
While voter ID laws are a complex and contentious issue, using fictional grocery store scenarios is not a constructive way to debate them. We need nuanced, evidence-based discussions, not hyperbole.
Absolutely. Maintaining the integrity of our elections should be a top priority, but it requires an honest, thoughtful approach, not misleading rhetoric.
Interesting fact check. It’s concerning to see such blatant misinformation being spread, especially by prominent public figures. Voters should be able to participate in elections without undue barriers or burdens.
Agreed, spreading falsehoods about basic everyday activities like grocery shopping undermines trust in our democratic institutions.