Donald Trump wants Republicans to nationalize elections and limit mail-in ballots, often citing debunked fraud claims. Here's what he's said

The BBC's Washington correspondent Daniel Bush explains why the US president's comments are causing a stir in a midterm election year.

Donald Trump said he will only accept the GOP losing control of Congress in this November’s midterms if he considers the elections to have been “honest.” Speaking to NBC’s Tom Llamas, the 79-year-old president was pressed on whether he would trust the midterm results after his suggestion that Republicans should “nationalize” election races across the country.

President Donald Trump says U.S. elections should be nationalized, shifting away from the model of state control that has lasted nearly 250 years.

President Donald Trump has said he will only accept the 2026 midterm election results if he feels they are 'honest,' days after calling for Republicans to 'nationalize' elections

On Tuesday, Trump, 79, doubled down on comments he made during a podcast interview with Dan Bongino, his former FBI deputy director, in which he argued that Republicans should “nationalize” elections by taking over the way ballots are cast and counted.

While President Donald Trump is facing bipartisan backlash over a now-deleted social media post that included a blatantly racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady

"The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over.' The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting," Trump said on Friday.

Can’t believe I voted for you Mr. President. It’s a new low everyday,” read one comment on the president's video.