Insurrection Act risks

Why Trump might invoke the Insurrection Act before or during the midterms

President Trump may be the first president to invoke the Insurrection Act, which authorizes the domestic deployment of the U.S. military or the National Guard to suppress violent situations such as rebellions, riots, or insurrections. The act was first invoked in June 2020 during the George Floyd protests and again in January amid ICE deportation confrontations and Minneapolis shootings. No previous presidents have invoked the act in connection with an election. If Republicans lose Congress, a legal loophole could prevent or delay the seating of the newly elected Democratic majority, potentially leading to a Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Meanwhile, President Trump has made a pledge to vote at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, promising to "pretend" that he is on the ballot.

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