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Trump Defends Casting Florida Mail Ballot, Citing His Duties

His explanation undercuts his campaign to restrict mail voting through the stalled SAVE America Act.

Overview

  • Trump, who defended the choice Thursday at a White House Cabinet meeting, said he voted by mail "because I'm president" and pointed to exceptions for travel, military service, disability, or illness.
  • Palm Beach County records show Trump cast a mail ballot in the House District 87 special election, and the database also lists mail ballots for Melania Trump and Barron Trump.
  • Reporters noted he spent recent weekends at Mar-a-Lago during early voting from March 14 to 22, including March 20 to 22, and the White House replied it was a non-story because he primarily lives in Washington, D.C.
  • Trump continues to brand mail voting as "mail-in cheating" and is pressing the SAVE America Act, which would add voter ID and proof-of-citizenship rules and curb universal mail voting, but the bill faces resistance in the Senate.
  • The special election where he voted ended with Democrat Emily Gregory flipping the state House seat after Trump endorsed Republican Jon Maples.