On Monday, the day before the 2018 midterms, President Donald Trump took to his Twitter account to float a favorite conspiracy theory. Back in the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump claimed voter fraud accounted for all of his losses in the primaries and in losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by about 3 million votes.
The President appointed a commission after he took office to look into voter fraud. But Trump's group disbanded after months of finding no evidence to support the President's claims.
One commission member went public with complaints of a tainted and biased process desperate to find anything to support Trump's conspiracy theory that he won the popular vote.
Now the President is warning voters that "Law Enforcement" will be "watching closely" on Tuesday for "ILLEGAL VOTING." Trump tweeted:
"Law Enforcement has been strongly notified to watch closely for any ILLEGAL VOTING which may take place in Tuesday’s Election (or Early Voting). Anyone caught will be subject to the Maximum Criminal Penalties allowed by law. Thank you!"
Law Enforcement has been strongly notified to watch closely for any ILLEGAL VOTING which may take place in Tuesday’… https://t.co/QbE9BAR7bx— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1541432508.0
Social media failed to feel reassured that Trump alerted law enforcement. Many saw the tweet as an attempt at voter suppression through intimidation.
@realDonaldTrump Sending "law enforcement" to the polls could constitute voter intimidation, which is unconstitutio… https://t.co/5gzXwV2bhb— surfkitty ❄️🇺🇸❄️ (@surfkitty ❄️🇺🇸❄️) 1541444310.0
@realDonaldTrump https://t.co/PczkEp8UKK— Do Us A Favor, Though 🆘 (@Do Us A Favor, Though 🆘) 1541444811.0
@roseymelhill @realDonaldTrump @BrianKempGA WE NEED EVERY ONE OF YOU ! Republicans Cheat ! 😡 DON'T LET THEM WIN❗… https://t.co/O35wavVqI6— 🌊 💙 Lola 💙🌊 (@🌊 💙 Lola 💙🌊) 1541450650.0
@realDonaldTrump This is what voter suppression looks like— mike styczen 🇨🇦 (@mike styczen 🇨🇦) 1541450391.0
@realDonaldTrump Have them watch out for voter suppression, as well. There are very few incidents of illegal voting… https://t.co/yJNPKsQNnt— 🌊🌊Lynn Buzzard Brix🌊🌊 (@🌊🌊Lynn Buzzard Brix🌊🌊) 1541448791.0
@realDonaldTrump The ‘United’ States, the so-called leaders of the free world, the bastion of democracy has a Presi… https://t.co/D0Du1QUOA6— Darren (@Darren) 1541449795.0
@realDonaldTrump NEVER LET ANYONE, INCLUDING OUR PRESIDENT, INTIMIDATE YOU OUT OF VOTING. Express your right to vote!!!!!— Laurie Hicks (@Laurie Hicks) 1541449740.0
Others pointed out some issues with the GOP and voting. Or President Trump and illegal activities.
@realDonaldTrump Can we start with the ILLEGAL VOTE SUPPRESSION FROM @GOP? You and your GOP scum will pay for your… https://t.co/AK7yDgSo9A— Sending ❤️to Australia Ⓥ🐘🇺🇸🇲🇽🇪🇸 (@Sending ❤️to Australia Ⓥ🐘🇺🇸🇲🇽🇪🇸) 1541444476.0
@realDonaldTrump You're supposed to take your job seriously. You're supposed to be the President of the entire coun… https://t.co/XU19Pe8n4U— John Sipher (@John Sipher) 1541445289.0
@john_sipher @realDonaldTrump Is that tweet for Obama? I think it's too late for that. He and many others sold us out.— Sophia VII 🇺🇸 (@Sophia VII 🇺🇸) 1541445625.0
@susana4559 @john_sipher @realDonaldTrump No. It's for the man who stood next to Putin and sided with him over us.… https://t.co/pmAdcr2ybu— 🇺🇸WRAPPED IN THE FLAG🇺🇸 (@🇺🇸WRAPPED IN THE FLAG🇺🇸) 1541446683.0
@shenanigrinsart @ChineseNavy @susana4559 @john_sipher @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/hnj52OhWIt— Lulu (@Lulu) 1541448282.0
@realDonaldTrump Mr Trump You destroyed the Republican party's chances to hold the House Your next six months will… https://t.co/pBi1Fx2faz— Tomi T Ahonen (@Tomi T Ahonen) 1541448560.0
Others thought Trump intended to sow seeds of doubt about any election results that failed to go in his favor.
. @realDonaldTrump Ah, so this is the plan. When the blue wave hits, you're going to claim it was all voter fraud.… https://t.co/y15CXgUtu4— Mayra Martinez (@Mayra Martinez) 1541444540.0
@realDonaldTrump You are so predictable. Knew you were going to say the election is going to be rigged. Republicans… https://t.co/TRy0NqhaqY— KAS22@KaaRinn (@KAS22@KaaRinn) 1541448428.0
@realDonaldTrump Despite your totally ludicrous claims that 3-5 million people voted illegally during the 2016 elec… https://t.co/WKid8OeGtq— Dave Kilminster (@Dave Kilminster) 1541449700.0
@realDonaldTrump I never see or need law enforcement at my polling station. Which part of the 3rd Reich do you vote at?— Russ Stoneking (@Russ Stoneking) 1541448709.0
Midterm elections are slated for Tuesday, November 6, 2018. To learn what your rights are as a voter, visit the ACLU voter rights webpage.