The Atlantic Dec 2025

Donald Trump has used his second term to amass unprecedented powers. He won't give them up easily. In The Atlantic's December issue, David A.

Graham examines how the president might subvert the 2026 midterm elections, and J. Michael Luttig argues that Trump will likely seek a third term.

Trump has already begun to lay the groundwork to corrupt the midterms, Graham argues. The president has proved that he is capable of throwing an election into chaos, and in 2026, his efforts will be more sophisticated. Trump and his allies will have a "buffet of options" for interference, including spreading false claims of fraud, commandeering voting machines, and invoking the Insurrection Act. "Defending the system in 2026 won't guarantee clean elections in 2028," Graham continues, "but failing to do so would be catastrophic."

"For anyone who doubts that Trump is contemplating a monarchical reign, consider how far down that road he already is," Luttig argues. Trump has already co-opted congressional power, deployed the military to American cities, and bullied law firms, universities, and media companies.

"Trump is clearly willing to subvert an election in order to hold on to the power he so craves, and he is now fully enabled to undermine national elections," Luttig writes. "No one can prevent him from remaining president of the United States for a constitutionally prohibited third term-except the American people."

Trump "has always told us exactly who he is. We have just not wanted to believe him," Luttig continues. "But we must believe him now."