Published on: Fri, 22 May 2026 12:39:52 GMT
Original Story: Exclusive: Trump officials tried to ban half of U.S. voting machines, citing conspiracy theories – Reuters

Trump’s Election “Integrity” Crusade: Still Going?

Well, well, well. Looks like the “election was stolen” train is still chugging along, even though most of us have moved on to complaining about inflation and the price of gas. Reuters just dropped a juicy little nugget: Apparently, during the last administration, some folks in Trump’s inner circle were trying to get half of the voting machines in the U.S. banned. Why? Conspiracy theories, naturally. Because facts are, like, so 2015.

The “Evidence” (Spoiler Alert: There Isn’t Any)

According to the report, these officials – who, shocker, remain unnamed in key instances – were pushing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to decertify voting machines based on… questionable evidence. Think Sidney Powell level of “evidence.” We’re talking about algorithms that flipped votes, secret Chinese backdoors, and probably some alien involvement thrown in for good measure. You know, the usual suspects in any good right-wing fever dream. They wanted to leverage CISA’s authority to essentially invalidate the results of any election that didn’t go their way. Real subtle, guys. Real subtle.

Remember When Trump Loved Voting Machines?

It’s hilarious, really. Back in 2016, when Trump actually won, voting machines were the pinnacle of American democracy. The gold standard! The only way to ensure fair and accurate results! Fast forward to 2020, and suddenly these same machines are instruments of the Deep State, rigged by nefarious forces to steal the election. It’s almost like his opinion on voting machines is directly correlated to whether or not he wins. Curious, isn’t it?

The CISA Pushback

Thankfully, CISA – at least some elements within it – had a few sane people left. They apparently pushed back hard against this blatant attempt to subvert democracy, arguing that the evidence was, shall we say, lacking. They pointed out that the claims were based on debunked conspiracy theories and that decertifying half the nation’s voting machines would throw the entire election system into chaos. A state of chaos that, some might argue, was precisely the point. But hey, I’m just a jaded elder millennial, what do I know?

Why This Matters (Besides the Obvious)

Okay, so a bunch of Trump loyalists tried to pull off a coup by decertifying voting machines. We’ve heard it all before, right? But here’s the thing: this wasn’t just some random guy ranting on Twitter (though there was plenty of that too). This was a coordinated effort within the highest levels of government to undermine the integrity of our elections. It’s a chilling reminder of how close we came to a full-blown constitutional crisis. And it underscores the lengths to which some people will go to cling to power, regardless of the cost to our democracy. Remind me again why we’re supposed to be grateful for this era of “patriotism”?

The Broader Context: Project 2025, Anyone?

This whole episode fits neatly into the larger narrative of Project 2025 and the broader conservative movement’s efforts to consolidate power and reshape the federal government. The goal isn’t just to win elections; it’s to fundamentally alter the way our government functions, to make it more responsive to a particular political ideology. And suppressing the vote, or at least casting doubt on the legitimacy of elections, is a key part of that strategy. It is worth pointing out that Trump appointed the head of CISA. He also frequently claims to hire “only the best people.”

A Blast From The Past

Speaking of hypocrisy, let’s not forget Trump’s stance on election interference back in 2012 when he tweeted: “We can’t let Obama rig the election!”. Oh, the irony. It seems the only thing consistent about Trump’s views on elections is that they conveniently align with his own self-interest.

Snarky Takeaway

So, what’s the takeaway here? Simple: don’t be surprised when politicians try to manipulate the system for their own benefit. And always, always, question the motives of anyone who claims to be defending “election integrity” while simultaneously trying to undermine the very foundations of democracy. Especially when their “evidence” comes from the same source as your aunt’s crazy QAnon theories. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go yell at some clouds about the state of the world.