"I will note that in 2024, troops were -- that was Joe Biden by the way, Joe Biden -- were deployed to polling locations in 15 states," Hegseth said April 29, 2026 before the House of Representatives (archived here).
He repeated: "2024, Joe Biden, troops deployed to polling locations in 15 states. Explain that one to me."
The Pentagon chief was responding to Democratic Congresswoman Jill Tokuda, who asked whether he would comply if President Donald Trump ordered him to send troops to polling sites. Tokuda cited a federal law that prohibits deploying armed forces to such locations unless doing so is "necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States" (archived here).
Pressed again by Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin the next day, Hegseth offered a slightly revised version of his claim, saying that "in 2024, under the Biden administration, 15 states did deploy troops to polling stations" (archived here).
The spats came as the campaigns for control of Congress entered their final six months before November's midterm elections. Trump has expressed regrets about not ordering the military to seize voting machines back in 2020, as he sought to overturn that election.
In a May 6, 2026 statement, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told AFP: "Secretary Hegseth is absolutely correct, and the Department of War stands by his testimony."
"While Joe Biden was president, National Guard offered various levels of support in 15 states, mainly ran by Democrat Governors, for during...
"I will note that in 2024, troops were -- that was Joe Biden by the way, Joe Biden -- were deployed to polling locations in 15 states," Hegseth said April 29, 2026 before the House of Representati...