--- title: Trump Casts Doubt on Midterm Election Results description: President Donald Trump is following a familiar playbook by sowing doubt about election outcomes after a wave of Republican losses. canonical: https://time.com/article/2026/11/09/trump-casts-doubt-on-midterm-election-results/ author: Rebecca Schneid article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-11-09T17:22:22.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-11-09T18:06:13.442Z article:section: Politics og:title: Trump Casts Doubt on Midterm Election Results og:description: The U.S. President is following a familiar playbook by sowing doubt about election outcomes after a wave of Republican losses. og:url: https://time.com/article/2026/11/09/trump-casts-doubt-on-midterm-election-results/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt470d3a16d08ad7b9/6af1ef08cdd408a24d4d42d7/AP26312846396772.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 7620 og:image:height: 4286 og:image:alt: AP26312846396772.jpg og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Trump Casts Doubt on Midterm Election Results twitter:description: The U.S. President is following a familiar playbook by sowing doubt about election outcomes after a wave of Republican losses. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt470d3a16d08ad7b9/6af1ef08cdd408a24d4d42d7/AP26312846396772.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Trump Casts Doubt on Midterm Election Results > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=ece66c14-3990-4621-8ce7-e0af215877c1&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=ece66c14-3990-4621-8ce7-e0af215877c1&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=ece66c14-3990-4621-8ce7-e0af215877c1&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=ece66c14-3990-4621-8ce7-e0af215877c1&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1)  by [Rebecca Schneid](https://time.com/author/rebecca-schneid/)  ## Rebecca Schneid Reporter Nov 9, 2026 5:22 PM UTC  President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Air Force One, at President Donald J. Trump International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 8, 2026. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Air Force One, at President Donald J. Trump International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 8, 2026. Jaquelyn Martin—AP  by [Rebecca Schneid](https://time.com/author/rebecca-schneid/)  ## Rebecca Schneid Reporter Nov 9, 2026 5:22 PM UTC Listen 00:001.0x04:22 Narrated by TIME AI. President Donald Trump questioned the integrity of the [midterm elections](https://time.com/article/2026/11/04/what-democrats-midterm-gains-reveal-about-trump-s-voter-coalition/) on Monday, less than a week after the [Republican](https://time.com/article/2026/11/08/republican-redistricting-2026-midterm-elections/) Party suffered historic defeats in both swing states and former [GOP strongholds](https://time.com/article/2026/11/09/democrats-2026-midterm-elections-deep-red-states/). “Does anybody really believe that this ‘Election’ was honest,” Trump asked in a [Truth Social](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117587105833579030) post early Monday. “How could the Polls be so wrong???” “Some early voting ‘dumps’ were so large that it was impossible to win, no matter how many people went to vote,” he continued, adding: “It’s all about the machines, which are far more important than the voter!” His post did not elaborate on what was meant by the statement. **Read more:** [_Welcome to Trump’s Lame-Duck Era_](https://time.com/article/2026/11/04/trump-lame-duck-era/) Trump’s unsubstantiated fraud claims come nearly two weeks after he [told](https://www.facebook.com/PTCNewsAmerica/videos/trump-says-hell-accept-midterm-results-if-theyre-honest-electionsptcpunjabi-dona/1633056688566469/) reporters on Oct. 27 that he would respect the election results “if they’re honest elections.” As results came in throughout Nov. 3 and into Nov. 4, Trump seemed to accept the outcome. “My message is, congratulations to the Democrats, and I look forward to working with you for the good of our country,” Trump told[ CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-congratulates-democrats-election-night-call/) in an election-night phone call. It was a sentiment he repeated in an interview that aired Sunday on [_60 Minutes_](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-2026-post-midterm-elections-interview-60-minutes-transcript/), when he said he would be willing to work with Democrats on immigration, addressing an [issue](https://apnorc.org/projects/ahead-of-the-midterms-most-voters-cite-the-economy-and-cost-of-living-as-top-issues-and-favor-political-change/) that had been top-of-mind for voters ahead of Election Day. “I think that's something that's actually doable," he said. By Monday morning, however, Trump was casting doubt on the results. The comment harkens back to Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of election interference and ensuing lawsuits after he [lost the presidency](https://time.com/5907973/donald-trump-loses-2020-election/) to Joe Biden in 2020. ## Trump's history of election denial Trump was sowing doubt on the 2020 election before voting began, telling the public that August that “the only way we’re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged.” Following his loss, Trump refused to concede to Biden. Instead, he began to spread conspiracy theories about widespread election fraud, without evidence. On Nov. 7, 2020, shortly before news organizations projected Biden’s victory, Trump falsely declared [on Twitter](https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1325099845045071873) that he had “WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!” Echoing Trump’s false claims also became a test of loyalty within the Republican Party, with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, and former Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene among those who espoused the false view. Trump and his allies filed 62 lawsuits challenging or seeking to overturn the results between Nov. 4, 2020, and Jan. 6, 2021, according to the [House Jan. 6 committee](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-J6-REPORT/html-submitted/ch1.html). Only one produced a victory—a narrow Pennsylvania ruling that didn’t establish fraud or change the outcome.[ Some cases](https://campaignlegal.org/results-lawsuits-regarding-2020-elections) were dismissed on procedural grounds; others failed on the merits. The legal defeats did not stop Trump from repeating his false claims. On Dec. 22, 2020, he alleged on [social media](https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1341405487057821698) that Democrats had “DUMPED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS IN THE SWING STATES LATE IN THE EVENING.” The claims escalated on Jan. 5, 2021, when Trump [tweeted](https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1346578706437963777): “Washington is being inundated with people who don’t want to see an election victory stolen by emboldened Radical Left Democrats.” This followed repeated calls for his supporters to descend upon Washington D.C. and [protest the results](https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1340185773220515840). As Congress met to count and certify the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, 2021, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. His efforts to overturn his 2020 defeat also led to criminal charges. In August 2023, Special Counsel Jack Smith brought four federal charges against Trump, alleging efforts to subvert the results through pressure on officials, fraudulent elector slates, and interference with certification. Trump pleaded not guilty. On the campaign trail in 2024, he [doubled down](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-trump-says-he-was-being-sarcastic-when-he-said-he-lost-by-a-whisker-in-2020) on his allegations of election interference by urging voters to deliver a victory that was “too big to rig.” The case was dismissed in November that year, after his reelection, because of Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting President. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/11/09/trump-casts-doubt-on-midterm-election-results/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/11/09/trump-casts-doubt-on-midterm-election-results/"},"headline":"Trump Casts Doubt on Midterm Election Results","datePublished":"2026-11-09T17:22:22.000Z","dateModified":"2026-11-09T18:06:13.442Z","description":"The President is following a familiar playbook by sowing doubt about election outcomes after a wave of Republican losses.","url":"https://time.com/article/2026/11/09/trump-casts-doubt-on-midterm-election-results/","keywords":["President Donald Trump","trump","Trump Administration","Donald Trump","president trump","Midterm Elections","Midterms"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt470d3a16d08ad7b9/6af1ef08cdd408a24d4d42d7/AP26312846396772.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rebecca Schneid","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/rebecca-schneid/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt470d3a16d08ad7b9/6af1ef08cdd408a24d4d42d7/AP26312846396772.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"AP26312846396772.jpg","caption":"","creditText":"Jaquelyn Martin—AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/president-donald-trump/","name":"President Donald Trump"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/11/09/trump-casts-doubt-on-midterm-election-results/","name":"Trump Casts Doubt on Midterm Election Results"}}]}] ```