{"id":6241,"date":"2026-07-17T11:22:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T11:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/trump-declares-war-on-the-midterm-elections-trumps-prime-time-election-speech-and-what-comes-next\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T11:22:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T11:22:43","slug":"trump-declares-war-on-the-midterm-elections-trumps-prime-time-election-speech-and-what-comes-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/trump-declares-war-on-the-midterm-elections-trumps-prime-time-election-speech-and-what-comes-next\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Declares War On The Midterm Elections. Trump\u2019s Prime-Time Election Speech \u2014 And What Comes Next."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=\" width=\"100%\" height=\"210\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Plus: The Iran Forever War Grinds On. Hegseth\u2019s Blue Angels \u201cMorale \u201dStunt. Quick Response Pod<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Donald Trump has been telegraphing this punch for months, and now it\u2019s landed. In a prime-time address to the nation, the president laid the groundwork to undermine free and fair elections this fall \u2014 the single greatest threat to his power. Paul Rieckhoff breaks down why this speech matters, why it wasn\u2019t a policy pitch but an opening salvo, and why the free and fair midterms are the circuit breaker Trump most wants to disable. The Democrats aren\u2019t ready. The Republicans are complicit or asleep. And most of America is trying to figure out if summer camp gets canceled tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p>Paul connects the dots from Iran to Venezuela to Minneapolis to the National Guard deployment in D.C. extended through 2029 \u2014 all gas, no brakes, no matter what Congress, the polls, or his own party say. He also gets into the Blue Angels flyover controversy and Pete Hegseth\u2019s \u201cflyovers will continue until morale improves\u201d post, and why using the military as a prop is a violation of protocol and a warning sign about accountability. This is a no-BS field briefing on a forever war that just refocused on the home front \u2014 your ballot.<\/p>\n<p><span>-WATCH <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/VJylZSMRK7s\"><span>full video of this episode here<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>-Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. <a href=\"https:\/\/independentveteransofamerica.org\/veterans-locked-out\/\" target=\"_blank\">See what we\u2019re doing to change that<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>-Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/kalshi.com\/r\/INDEPENDENT\" target=\"_blank\">Kalshi and trade on anything<\/a>. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten.<\/p>\n<p>-Join <a href=\"https:\/\/noblemobile.com\/paul\" target=\"_blank\">Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus<\/a> when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months!<\/p>\n<p>-Join <a href=\"https:\/\/independentveteransofamerica.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>-Learn more about Paul\u2019s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with <a href=\"https:\/\/independentveteransofamerica.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Independent Veterans of America<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>-Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/americanveteransforukraine.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">American Veterans for Ukraine here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>-Remember <a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/do8wjRtDZJ4?feature=share\" target=\"_blank\">Independent is an Attitude<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>-Learn more about<a href=\"https:\/\/theheadstrongproject.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"> The Headstrong Project <\/a>for Veterans, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.taps.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/health-care\/health-needs-conditions\/mental-health\/\" target=\"_blank\">Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area<\/a>. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It\u2019s a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Connect with Independent Americans:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Subscribe on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@independentamericans\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0F1lzdRbTB0XYen8kyEqXe\" target=\"_blank\">Spotify<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff\/id1457899667\" target=\"_blank\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>, and all podcast platforms<\/li>\n<li>Read more at<a href=\"https:\/\/independentamericans.substack.com\" target=\"_blank\"> Substack<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Support ad-free episodes at<a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/independentamericans\" target=\"_blank\"> Patreon<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Connect: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/IndependentAmericansUS\/\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a> \u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/indy_americans\" target=\"_blank\">X\/Twitter<\/a> \u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/indyamericans.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\">BlueSky<\/a> \u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/IndependentAmericansUS\/\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PaulRieckhoff\" target=\"_blank\">X<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/paulrieckhoff\/\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.threads.com\/@paulrieckhoff\" target=\"_blank\">Threads<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/rieckhoff.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\">Bluesky<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/independentamericans\/posts\" target=\"_blank\">Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community<\/a> of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/independentamericans.us\/merch\/\" target=\"_blank\">And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch<\/a> now in time for the new year.<\/p>\n<p>Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led <a href=\"https:\/\/righteous.us\/\" target=\"_blank\">Righteous Media<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And now part of <a href=\"https:\/\/bleav.com\/shows\/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff\/\" target=\"_blank\">the BLEAV network<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href=\"https:\/\/pcm.adswizz.com\">pcm.adswizz.com<\/a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Donald Trump has been telegraphing this punch for months, and now it\u2019s landed. In a prime-time address to the nation, the president laid the groundwork to undermine free and fair elections this fall \u2014 the single greatest threat to his power. Paul Rieckhoff breaks down why this speech matters, why it wasn\u2019t a policy pitch but an opening salvo, and why the free and fair midterms are the circuit breaker Trump most wants to disable. The Democrats aren\u2019t ready. The Republicans are complicit or asleep. And most of America is trying to figure out if summer camp gets canceled tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6242,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-episodes","entry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ia-promo-square-ep577.jpg",1400,1400,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ia-promo-square-ep577.jpg",1400,1400,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ia-promo-square-ep577.jpg",1400,1400,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ia-promo-square-ep577-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ia-promo-square-ep577-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ia-promo-square-ep577-1024x1024.jpg",750,750,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ia-promo-square-ep577.jpg",1400,1400,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ia-promo-square-ep577.jpg",1400,1400,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ia-promo-square-ep577.jpg",1400,1400,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/author\/admin\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/category\/episodes\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Episodes<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Donald Trump has been telegraphing this punch for months, and now it\u2019s landed. In a prime-time address to the nation, the president laid the groundwork to undermine free and fair elections this fall \u2014 the single greatest threat to his power. Paul Rieckhoff breaks down why this speech matters, why it wasn\u2019t a policy pitch&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6241"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6241\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}