President Donald Trump on Thursday accused California Democrats of trying to manipulate election outcomes through the state's mail-in voting system, warning that Republicans must act to pass his proposed election-integrity legislation, the SAVE AMERICA Act.
"Look what's happening in California, the Dumocrats, right before our very eyes, are stealing the Vote," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I hope the Republicans are watching so that they can finally pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!"
Trump's comments came as vote counting continued in California primary elections, including the races for governor and mayor of Los Angeles. The president alleged Democrats were benefiting from large numbers of mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day.
"The Dumocrats are at it again!" Trump wrote in another Truth Social post. "They are trying to STEAL THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA PRIMARY, AND THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, PRIMARY, AWAY FROM TWO GREAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES."
Trump also questioned why vote counting remained ongoing days after the election.
"Here we go with the very late and massive numbers of MAIL IN BALLOTS," he wrote.
In a third post, Trump alleged widespread election misconduct and pointed to an investigation by federal authorities.
"There's BIG cheating by the Dumocrats in California," Trump wrote. "Votes are all tied up. May not be in for weeks. Under investigation by the US Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. Why the vote counting DELAY???"
Gov. Gavin Newsom's office dismissed Trump's claims, posting on X that the president was "lying about California again."
Under California law, mail-in ballots remain valid if they are postmarked by Election Day and received by county election officials within the state's legal deadline. Election officials continue counting ballots during a canvass period that can last several weeks before results are finalized and certified.
Trump used the controversy to renew his call for passage of the SAVE AMERICA Act, a package of election and social-policy reforms he says would strengthen election integrity and protect American values.
The proposal includes requiring photo identification for all voters, proof of U.S. citizenship before voting, and restricting mail-in voting to voters who are ill, disabled, serving in the military, or traveling. The measure would also prohibit biological males from competing in women's sports and ban transgender surgeries for minors.
Election integrity has remained a central issue for Trump and many Republicans, who argue that voter ID requirements, citizenship verification, and limits on mail-in voting are necessary to restore public confidence in elections.
"THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!" Trump declared, outlining what he described as common-sense reforms that Republicans should prioritize as the debate over California's vote-counting process continues.