Fact check: Did trump say he liked the idea of starting a war so he could cancel elections in 2028?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Trump did make a statement about canceling elections during wartime, but the specific framing in the original question contains inaccuracies. According to sources, Trump said "if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections" ^{[1] [2]}. However, the analyses reveal that:

• No source confirms Trump specifically mentioned the year 2028 in relation to this statement ^[1]
• No source indicates Trump explicitly said he "liked the idea of starting a war" to cancel elections
• The statement appears to have been framed as a "joke" according to the source titles ^{[1] [2]}

The remaining sources ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]} do not mention this specific statement about war and election cancellation at all, instead focusing on other election-related topics such as voting machines, mail-in voting, and conspiracy theories.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

• The tone and context of Trump's remarks - sources suggest this was presented as a joke rather than a serious policy proposal ^{[1] [2]}
• Trump's broader election-related statements and actions, including his vows to change how elections are conducted ^[9], end mail-in voting and voting machines ^[4], and his promotion of various conspiracy theories about election integrity ^{[3] [4] [5]}
• Constitutional limitations on presidential power over elections, as one source notes that the US Constitution doesn't give the president the power to unilaterally change how elections are run ^[9]

Alternative viewpoints that benefit different parties:

• Trump supporters would benefit from framing such statements as jokes or hyperbole rather than serious threats to democracy
• Political opponents and media organizations would benefit from presenting these statements as genuine threats to democratic institutions
• Constitutional scholars and election officials would benefit from emphasizing the legal constraints that prevent such actions

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains several potentially misleading elements:

• Specific year attribution: The question asks about "2028" specifically, but no source confirms Trump mentioned this particular year ^[1]
• Intent assumption: The question assumes Trump said he "liked the idea of starting a war" when sources only report him saying there would be "no more elections" during a war ^{[1] [2]}
• Missing context about presentation: The question doesn't acknowledge that sources describe this as a "joke" ^{[1] [2]}

The framing appears to present Trump's statement in the most inflammatory way possible, potentially amplifying the controversial nature of the remarks while omitting contextual details that might provide a more nuanced understanding of what was actually said and how it was presented.