Reporter Questions Trump’s Mail-Voting Message After Repeated Fraud Claims

President Donald Trump faced questions about his position on mail voting after encouraging supporters to use a method he has repeatedly criticised.

The exchange took place outside the White House on Monday, October 5, before Trump departed for a campaign rally in Nebraska. CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes asked why he was encouraging mail voting despite his allegations of fraud.

“Why are you telling your supporters to vote by mail if you think it’s fraud?”

Trump responded that he preferred in-person voting but said supporters could choose either method. He acknowledged that many people wanted to vote by mail and reiterated his concerns about cheating.

When Cordes asked for evidence, Trump pointed to California. She challenged that answer, and the president dismissed her as spreading false news. He did not identify a specific California case or present evidence supporting his allegation during the exchange.

The questioning followed a weekend campaign video in which Trump encouraged Republicans to vote early, by mail or in person on Election Day. Reuters described the message as a change in tone from his longstanding criticism of mail ballots. The November 3 midterm elections will determine control of Congress.

California’s official voting guidance explains that returned mail ballots undergo signature verification. Election officials compare the signature on the return envelope with signatures in the voter’s record. Voters can also track their ballots and receive notifications about their status. These procedures provide context for assessing claims about the system’s security.

The exchange highlighted the tension between Trump’s encouragement to use mail ballots and his continued criticism of the process. His comments concerned voting choices for the approaching election; they did not announce a new change to voting rules.