What happens if Trump cancels the midterm elections?

Video Description

What if a US president simply refuses to allow an election to take place? This video is not a conspiracy theory. It is a risk analysis based on polling data, Trump’s own record, and the legal powers he has already claimed. I examine what could happen if the 2026 US midterms are cancelled or ignored, how states might respond, the risk of constitutional rupture, and why this matters not just for America, but for the UK and Europe as well. Democracy only survives if it is defended. Take a look at the poll below: https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkxq0noHJYmXDfZ5Mkn1hCEOE6Eb0eZrIN8 Funding the Future event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/funding-the-future-conference-tickets-1976575960907 00:00 — The risk question: could the midterms be cancelled? 01:05 — Why 2026 polling matters and why Trump fears losing 02:15 — Independents swing elections and support is collapsing 03:25 — Refusal patterns: 2020 denial and January 6 precedent 04:35 — Emergency powers and the “Insurrection Act” scenario 06:05 — Two pathways: pre-emptive cancellation vs post-result rejection 07:10 — Public response: protests, strikes, economic non-cooperation 08:25 — State-run elections vs federal obstruction 09:40 — Constitutional rupture: arrests, clashes, red-state/blue-state split 11:00 — The MAGA base vs wider legitimacy shifting to democracy 12:00 — International spillover: Europe and far-right emulation risks 13:05 — UK vulnerability: weak safeguards and executive power 14:10 — What Labour “must” do: PR + Lords reform as defence 15:00 — Closing: delay is dangerous; democracy survives if defended TRANSCRIPT A transcript for this video is available at: https://www.taxresearch.org.uk IF YOU WANT TO WRITE TO YOUR MP ABOUT ISSUES IN THIS VIDEO If you want to write a letter to your MP on the issues raised in this blog post, there is a ChatGPT prompt to assist you in doing so, with full instructions, here. https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/06/20/chatgpt-prompt-for-a-letter-to-your-mp/ HOW TO SUPPORT US Please consider donating: https://ko-fi.com/taxresearch ABOUT RICHARD MURPHY Richard Murphy is Emeritus Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School. He is director of Tax Research LLP and the author of the Funding the Future blog. His best-known book is ‘The Joy of Tax’. This video was edited by Thomas Murphy. RICHARD MURPHY ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/richardjmurphy.bsky.social OR ON MY BLOG: http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/ HIT SUBSCRIBE & GET NOTIFICATIONS Subscribe and get notified of new videos released. INTRODUCTION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdHsRPy3060 PLAYLISTS: The Wealth Series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobQLeyZYAagFDMjEFTKbhRD Ecenomics https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob54Gs-fOL-8OAQ-IpduwB4 Britain https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobwTT4ATvJjsf8OO6S7wD10 Tax https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoaMni_12J6ULp3yUJisUZoY MMT https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoZ6jvRGSW5YXu8qogE6aClX Money https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYnLk1c7syTvoIo8bKYUs5m Climate Change https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob4_wsYaVivWd2WumpPLYwJ USA https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYYd3dSyU2Oyl3x7bWJOP7H Labour https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoa-KhzG-fnjDSg1WROL1zMw The Trump Administration https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobz41-GLimTho27A3flVWQx #Midterms #USPolitics #Democracy #ElectionIntegrity #Constitution #Authoritarianism #RuleOfLaw #CivilUnrest #Protests #InsurrectionAct #Trump #Congress #Republicans #Democrats #Independents #PoliticalRisk #ScenarioAnalysis #DemocraticBacksliding #Europe #UKPolitics #KeirStarmer #LabourParty #ElectoralReform #ProportionalRepresentation #HouseOfLords #FarRight #AfD #ReformUK #CivicResistance #politicsofcare #america #usa The Trump midterm elections have intensified debate over a broader US democracy crisis, as concerns grow about Trump authoritarianism, the election cancellation risk, and how the Insurrection Act explained fits into a potential US constitutional crisis. Fears have been amplified by claims that Trump refuses election results, reinforcing warnings that American democracy is under threat, with rising civil unrest United States highlighting the global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. These developments resonate internationally, shaping discussions on UK democracy reform, proportional representation UK, and questions surrounding Reform UK and democracy, while situating the United States within the wider context of global far-right politics.