President Trump isn’t mincing words about Democratic Attorneys General challenging his election security efforts.
In a May 5th Oval Office video, seated alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS head Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump expressed clear frustration:
“These are very dishonest people. They’ve lost their way… They have no idea what they’re doing. And they’re hurting our country.”
In March, Trump signed an executive order titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.”
The order’s primary goals were to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and to tighten mail-in ballot rules.
Supporters argue these are common-sense measures, with one noting on social media: “If you have to show ID to buy cold medicine or board a plane, you should show proof you’re a citizen to vote.”
This executive order prompted immediate opposition from Democratic attorneys general, including Nevada’s Aaron Ford.
He joined 18 other Democratic AGs in filing lawsuits to block Trump’s order, arguing it’s unconstitutional and violates states’ rights to control their own elections.
Their efforts saw initial success on April 24, when a federal judge temporarily blocked key parts of Trump’s order, including the requirement for agencies like the DMV and welfare offices to verify citizenship before helping with voter registration.
The president didn’t hold back in his response to these legal challenges:
“They’re just crooked. They care more about politics than the country.”
.@POTUS responds to the “crooked” Democrat Attorneys General suing his administration: “They’re just hurting our country. These are very dishonest people. They’ve lost their way. They’ve lost their confidence… They have no idea what they’re doing.” pic.twitter.com/U7KEocwqad
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 5, 2025
The video shared by @RapidResponse47 shows Trump clearly frustrated with what his supporters see as politically motivated obstruction.
Nevada’s position in this conflict is particularly significant.
The state already allows automatic voter registration at the DMV, and Trump’s order would have added a citizenship verification requirement that many conservatives believe is long overdue.
For Nevada voters, the question becomes straightforward: Do they want their attorney general working to block voter ID requirements or to enforce them?
This isn’t Ford’s first confrontation with Trump over election issues. During the 2020 election, he fought against lawsuits challenging Nevada’s mail-in voting rules.
Since Trump’s return to office, Ford and other Democratic AGs have filed over 100 lawsuits against the president’s second-term policies since January, targeting everything from immigration to healthcare and student visas.
Critics suggest Ford’s opposition is politically motivated, noting his close ties to national Democratic groups and his leadership roles in the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA), which has orchestrated many of these lawsuits.
Some speculate he’s positioning himself for an announced gubernatorial run in 2026.
Democrats argue Trump’s order would create chaos, slow down registration, and unfairly impact minority and immigrant communities. Some characterize it as an effort to suppress votes.
Republicans counter that requiring proof of citizenship isn’t suppression but protection of electoral integrity.
As one voter in Pahrump put it: “I’m tired of hearing about ‘disenfranchisement.’ What about protecting the integrity of the vote for citizens like me?”
While Trump’s order has hit a temporary roadblock, neither he nor AGs like Aaron Ford show signs of backing down.
The fundamental question for Nevadans remains: What level of verification do they believe is appropriate for their electoral system?
At its core, this conflict isn’t simply about Trump versus Democratic AGs. It’s about differing visions for how American elections should function and whether basic citizenship verification constitutes a reasonable safeguard or an unnecessary barrier.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
