Claim Check · Elections
“Donald Trump said 'Pretend I'm on the ticket'”
Verdict: Mostly TruePublished automatically from the cited sources below; the editor, Cory Hepler, has not yet reviewed it. Something off? Request a correction →
Donald Trump repeatedly told midterm campaign crowds, including in Kansas and South Carolina in 2026, to 'pretend' he was on the ballot even though he wasn't, urging them to vote for Republicans as if he himself were running.
NBC News and The Guardian both confirm Trump used the phrase 'pretend I'm on the ballot' or close variants ('pretend, please, that I'm on the ballot') multiple times during 2026 midterm campaign rallies, including in Kansas and South Carolina. The Independent and Times Now corroborate this as a recurring closing message before the midterms. The claim quotes Trump as saying 'Pretend I'm on the ticket' rather than 'ballot,' which is a minor wording difference from the actual repeated phrase, and The Guardian's coverage cited is an opinion piece, not strictly 'midterms coverage' news reporting, but it does attribute the quote to Trump accurately in substance and setting.
Sources
- Trump tries out new midterm message: Pretend I’m on the ballot — NBC News
- Trump’s plea – ‘pretend I’m on the ballot’ – deserves to backfire | Margaret Sullivan | The Guardian — theguardian.com
- Trump goes on Hannity to make desperate last appeal for midterm votes after Supreme Court setback: Live updates | The Independent — independent.co.uk
- 'Pretend I'm On The Ballot': Trump's Final Push For Republicans Ahead Of Midterms | Times Now — timesnownews.com