Fact Check: Did Trump vote by mail in Florida after years of making unfounded voter fraud claims?

Before the 2020 presidential election, Trump repeatedly described mail-in voting as corrupt

PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO

President Donald Trump exits Air Force One after landing at Palm Beach International Airport on March 20, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that President Donald Trump voted by mail in a Florida election after spending years railing against mail-in voting. The claim has been spread by accusing the president of hypocrisy, while many remained sceptical of the rumor. Let us analyse and fact-check the claim.

Claim: Donald Trump cast a mail-in ballot for Florida's special election

The variations of the claim spread on other social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, while many questioned the authenticity of the viral claim (@OccupyDemocrats/X)

According to a viral post on X, “BREAKING: Trump just got busted voting by mail while actively trying to BAN voting by mail in outrageous show of shameless hypocrisy!"

The variations of the claim spread on other social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, while many questioned the authenticity of the viral claim, asking if Trump really cast a mail-in ballot in March 2026 for Florida's House District 87 special election while actively trying to ban voting by mail.

Fact Check: Donald Trump voted by mail-in special election

President Donald Trump arrives onstage to participate in a roundtable discussion on public safety at a Tennessee Air National Guard Base, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) — President Donald Trump arrives onstage to participate in a roundtable discussion on public safety at a Tennessee Air National Guard Base, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

A voting record on Palm Beach County's elections website confirmed that Trump voted by mail in the special election. Other records also confirmed that First Lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron Trump, also voted by mail.

Before the 2020 presidential election, Trump repeatedly described mail-in voting as ‘corrupt, dangerous, and horrible,’ warning it would lead to widespread fraud.

After losing the election and following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, he continued to claim that Democrats had carried out massive voter fraud.

Trump explains mail-in vote as 'exception' amid ongoing criticism

President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) — President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump said on Thursday that he opted to vote by mail-in Florida’s House District 87 special election because he was unable to be physically present.

His remarks come days after he again described mail-in voting in negative terms. The issue has remained a central theme in his broader election policy positions.

“You know what, because I’m president of the United States, and because of the fact that I’m president of the United States, I did a mail-in ballot for elections that took place in Florida,” he said.

“I decided that I was going to vote by mail-in ballot because I couldn’t be there, because I had a lot of different things,” he added.

The president’s explanation follows repeated criticism of mail-in voting. Earlier in the week, he said, “Mail-in voting means mail-in cheating. I call it mail-in cheating,” during a public appearance.

He has frequently argued that the system is vulnerable to fraud.