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| President Trump with Zelensky and European leaders |
President Donald Trump is pursuing two ambitious and controversial agendas, seeking to broker an end to the war in Ukraine while simultaneously vowing to dismantle the nation's mail-in voting system. The dual efforts have been met with a mix of support and significant pushback, raising questions about constitutional authority and international diplomacy.
A New Diplomatic Offensive on Ukraine
Following a recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump has shifted his diplomatic stance on the Ukraine conflict. Initially advocating for a ceasefire, he now says the focus must be on a full peace agreement, echoing a long-held position of the Kremlin. This approach, outlined in his remarks and on social media, suggests Ukraine may need to cede territory, including the Crimean Peninsula and parts of the Donbas region, as part of a final deal.
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| Zelensky with European leaders |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in Washington for a meeting with Trump and European leaders, has met this shift with resistance. Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that Ukraine's constitution prohibits the ceding of any territory. The Ukrainian leader's visit, which included leaders from Germany, Finland, and NATO, was intended to show solidarity and ensure strong security guarantees for Ukraine in any post-war settlement. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz notably contradicted Trump's position, calling for a truce before any leaders' summit.
Trump has framed his approach as a direct path to ending the war, which he claims has cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. He said he would be willing to attend a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy to seal a deal. However, critics argue that his proposals place the burden of concessions almost entirely on Ukraine and may reward Russian aggression.
The Push to End Mail-In Voting
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| Mail-In Ballots |
Domestically, the president has announced a new "movement" to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called these methods "highly inaccurate" and "corrupt," alleging "massive voter fraud." He claims the U.S. is the "only country" in the world that uses mail-in voting, a statement that fact-checkers and numerous international studies have shown to be false.
This renewed push follows Trump's meeting with Putin, whom Trump claims told him that the 2020 U.S. election "was rigged because you have mail-in voting." Trump has vowed to sign an executive order to accomplish his goal, arguing that states are merely "agents" of the federal government in election administration and must follow his directives.
However, constitutional and legal experts widely refute this claim. The U.S. Constitution grants states the authority to set the "times, places, and manner" of holding elections. Law professors and election officials have stated that a president lacks the authority to unilaterally ban a voting method used by millions of Americans and that such a change would require congressional action, which is highly unlikely to pass.
Critics, including Oregon's Secretary of State Tobias Read, have called Trump's statements "active attempts to corrupt our elections" and noted that mail-in voting has been proven secure and effective in numerous states, including those with Republican leadership like Arizona and Utah. They argue that voter fraud is extremely rare and has not impacted the outcome of any election.
The president's vocal opposition to mail-in voting comes despite his own past use of the method and the Republican Party's recent efforts to encourage early and mail-in voting among its supporters. The announcement sets the stage for a significant legal and political battle over the future of American elections.
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