Trump has stocked his administration with people who have backed his false 2020 election claims

Trump Administration Staffed with 2020 Election Deniers, Raising Concerns

President Donald Trump has appointed numerous individuals who supported his false claims about the 2020 election to key positions in his second administration, raising alarms among election officials nationwide.

The administration now includes several figures who actively participated in efforts to overturn Trump’s 2020 loss to Joe Biden, with appointments stretching from the Justice Department to specialized legal teams focusing on election matters.

Kurt Olsen, an attorney who previously urged the Justice Department to back Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud in 2020, now leads a comprehensive investigation into that election. His appointment signals the administration’s continued focus on revisiting the previous contest despite multiple court rulings, audits, and investigations confirming Biden’s victory.

In a particularly notable move, Justice Department officials seized ballots and election records from Georgia’s Fulton County in late January. The Democratic stronghold, which includes Atlanta, has long been targeted by Trump allies claiming electoral improprieties. According to search warrant documents, the seizure was based on allegations that had already been thoroughly investigated and dismissed.

Pam Bondi, who participated in efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, now serves as Attorney General. She has publicly stated that Justice Department employees must execute the president’s directives, raising concerns about the department’s independence.

“The election denial movement is now embedded across our federal government, which makes it more powerful than ever,” said Joanna Lydgate, chief executive officer of States United Democracy Center, an organization that tracks election conspiracy theorists. “Trump and his allies are trying to use all of the powers of the federal government to undermine elections, with an eye to the upcoming midterms.”

Election officials, particularly in Democratic-controlled states, are preparing for potential disruptions during the upcoming midterm elections when control of Congress hangs in the balance. The infiltration of election deniers throughout the federal government has created unprecedented uncertainty about how the administration might intervene in state and local election processes.

Despite facing numerous challenges in his second term—including economic concerns and his controversial immigration policies—Trump continues to falsely claim he won the 2020 presidential election. This persistent narrative has convinced millions of Republican voters that the election was stolen, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

The administration’s composition reflects Trump’s tendency to reward loyalty, particularly from those who stood by him during his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Some appointees played relatively minor roles in advancing false election claims, while others actively promoted debunked conspiracy theories that formed the foundation of Trump’s election grievances.

Critics worry this concentration of election deniers in positions of power could undermine public confidence in the upcoming electoral process. With federal agencies now led by individuals who have questioned legitimate election outcomes, concerns are mounting about potential interference in state election administration.

Democratic lawmakers have expressed alarm at the administration’s focus on relitigating the 2020 election rather than addressing current national challenges. Several have called for congressional oversight of the Justice Department’s election-related activities, particularly the seizure of records from Democratic-leaning jurisdictions.

Constitutional scholars have raised questions about the legality of federal intervention in state-run elections, noting the traditionally decentralized nature of American electoral systems. The unprecedented nature of a former president returning to office after repeatedly claiming his previous defeat was fraudulent has created a situation with few historical parallels.

As the midterm elections approach, election administrators across the country face the difficult task of maintaining public trust while navigating potential federal scrutiny from an administration populated by those who have questioned the integrity of American elections.