If he provokes Iran into attacking us

[Mme. Defarge]

could he declare a national emergency and use it as a reason to cancel elections?

[EX500rider]

1. Don't see how as the most they can do is lob some short range missile at Middle East bases which they have done before

[bearsfootball516]

2. Midterm elections are run by the states.

He can't cancel them. The states would just conduct them as usual.

[C_U_L8R]

3. One guarantee.

Trump will do something incredibly stupid and self-serving.

[sarisataka]

4. How is Iran going to attack us

They have no capacity to reach the US

[Wounded Bear]

5. We have a lot of assets still in their range...

trump should butt the fuck out of their mess.

[sarisataka]

10. Iran could strike US interests in the Middle East or even a terrorist attack in Europe

But that would not justify a national emergency let alone martial law or canceling elections

[Wounded Bear]

11. To a "normal" administrion? Probably not. To trump? They'd be salivating at the chance...

trump is like a toddler with a new toy. He wants to use 'his' military to impose his will on the world and they'd take any excuse to act. Remember, the concept of proportional response is not in trump's playbook.

[JustAnotherGen]

6. No

He does not get any say in what these 50 States do.

[Torchlight]

7. that sounds familiar.

In regards to Iran as per Human Rights Watch (01/08/26): "The Iranian government has used lethal force, mass arrests, and framing protesters as threats and escalating repression."

Gee... that sounds awfully familiar around here these days.

[EX500rider]

8. Not quite the same scale though

Last edited Tue Jan 13, 2026, 06:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Iran has already killed over 500+ protestors in the last week (possibly 1,000's) that's the equivalent 1,800+ dead Americans.

Although:
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that it had so far confirmed the killing of 1,850 protesters.
That would be equal to 6,845 dead US citizens.

[Torchlight]

12. Hence 'familiar' rather than 'equivalent'

[Mme. Defarge]

9. Answered my own question - see below.

Why Trump cannot cancel midterm elections but here's what he can do
Story by Jack Hobbs • 6d

While outright canceling elections is forbidden by Federal law (2 U.S.C. § 7), several allies have suggested to the president that he could declare a national emergency due to alleged "threats to national sovereignty." One such "threat" could be a crisis at the border, which would then provide the president with a reason to justify federal intervention in state-run voting.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/why-trump-cannot-cancel-midterm-elections-but-here-s-what-he-can-do/ar-AA1TLtra