President Donald Trump quipped that Maryland may not even be majority Democrat as he ramps up his criticism of the state’s mail-in ballot rules.
“I was told that it’s automatically a Democrat state, and I don’t believe that,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “I did really well there, and I don’t believe it.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris won Maryland in the 2024 election with more than 60% of the vote compared to Trump’s 34% support in the state.
Earlier Monday, Trump implored the Department of Justice to investigate Maryland’s mail-in ballot system after a mistake by the Maryland State Board of Elections meant thousands of voters were sent the wrong party ballot for the state’s primary election on June 23.
After an event at the White House on Monday underscoring his work to decrease prescription drug prices, Trump responded to a question about his concerns regarding Maryland, where Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD), a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, is seeking reelection.
“I’m very concerned about mail-in ballots,” Trump said in the South Court Auditorium. “Mail-in ballot is, by just the nature of it, it’s going to be corrupt. So many people handle it.”
Trump then recalled voting in Florida during a recent election, where a polling location volunteer asked him for his identification.
“I was very proud to enter identification, and everything else,” he said. “I mean, you want to have proof of citizenship, you want to have a voter ID, you want to have all these things, but to me, maybe the worst of all is the mail-in ballots, where they come in.”
Of Maryland, Trump added: “It’s a very, very serious thing that’s happened, and I’ve asked the law enforcement to look at it very, very strenuously.”
TRUMP CALLS FOR DOJ INVESTIGATION INTO MARYLAND’S MAIL-IN BALLOT SYSTEM
Maryland’s mail-in ballot error was first reported on Friday, with the state resending all ballots regardless of whether the voter received a correct ballot in the first place.
“The State and Local Boards of Elections remain committed to running an election that is verified, secure and accurate,” Maryland State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis said in a press release. “Mail-in voting is an integral facet of the electoral process. With over 500,000 voters requesting mail-in ballots, we want to eliminate any doubt in its integrity or accuracy that is why I have arranged the sending of replacement ballots.”