“We Shouldn’t Even Have an Election” Is a Threat, Not a Joke

I am writing in response to President Trump’s statement today, reported by Reuters: “When you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election.” That statement is not a joke. It is a warning. I am deeply concerned by the continued tendency, by political leaders and the media alike, to dismiss explicit anti-democratic statements as humor or exaggeration. We have already seen the consequences of doing so. In the past, when the President has “joked” about undermining democratic norms, his actions have followed his words. When a sitting president openly suggests that elections themselves are unnecessary, it must be taken seriously, especially given his documented efforts to overturn a lawful election, pressure election officials, encourage false claims of fraud, and normalize political violence. These are not isolated remarks. They are part of a pattern of escalation. Your oath of office is not to a president or a party. It is to the Constitution. That oath requires you to act before democratic breakdown becomes irreversible, not after. I am urging you to: • Publicly reject any statement that questions the legitimacy or necessity of elections. • Treat threats to cancel, delay, or invalidate elections as real and actionable risks. • Use all lawful oversight, legislative, and constitutional tools available to protect free and fair elections at every level. • Make clear, in word and action, that no president has the authority to nullify the will of the people. History shows that democratic backsliding rarely begins with a single dramatic act. It begins when leaders fail to respond to clear signals, choosing reassurance over responsibility. Please do not minimize this moment. Take the President at his word and act accordingly. Our democracy depends on it.