'Not a coincidence': Leavitt blasts blue state over noncitizen voter roll disclosure

New Jersey Gov Mikie Sherrill announced that nearly 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote through the state's Motor Vehicle System
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified President Donald Trump's voter fraud claims by targeting New Jersey's voter rolls and highlighted his push for the SAVE America Act to require citizenship proof (Getty Images)
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified President Donald Trump's voter fraud claims by targeting New Jersey's voter rolls and highlighted his push for the SAVE America Act to require citizenship proof (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking at a press conference Thursday, July 23, amplified President Trump's allegations of voter fraud in blue states by targeting New Jersey's voter rolls.

President Donald Trump has persistently pushed for the SAVE America Act to ensure a fair election process by making voters prove their citizenship before registering in voter rolls.



Karoline Leavitt slams New Jersey for non-citizen registration

Karoline Leavitt slammed New Jersey Gov Mikie Sherrill over noncitizens registered to vote in the Garden State.

"I will say on New Jersey and this governor, the fact that she just all of a sudden decided to put out a press release saying President Trump and Republicans have been right about non-citizens on our voting rolls is not a coincidence," said Leavitt.

"I think this governor is saying this because she realizes this administration is serious about getting to the bottom of illegal aliens voting and being on our voter rolls in our country," she added.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

6600 non-citizen registered in New Jersey

New Jersey Gov Mikie Sherrill announced Tuesday, July 21, that nearly 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote through the state's Motor Vehicle System because of what she described as a "serious software error."

The company responsible for the identity-related security services, however, denied any wrongdoing.

Leavitt argued the disclosure validates the Trump administration's long-standing concerns about noncitizens appearing on voter rolls, saying it reinforces the White House's push for stricter election security measures.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes a question from a reporter during the daily press briefing at the White House on February 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. Leavitt spoke on the prisoner release from Russia, the war in Ukraine, inflation, and took questions on other topics. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes a question from a reporter during the daily press briefing at the White House on February 12, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

"Sherrill is speaking truth about the fact that this does take place in states across the country. It is completely unacceptable to have non-citizens on American voter rolls voting in US elections, and she says it's 6,600," said Leavitt.

"We suspect it's a heck of a lot more, not just in New Jersey, but in states across the country," she added.

Karoline Leavitt says Trump's patience on SAVE Act running out

During the same press briefing that day, Leavitt said President Trump’s patience with the SAVE Act is running out, and he wants as much of it as possible passed before the August recess.

The administration is pressing Senate Republicans to pass as much of the legislation as possible before the August recess, intensifying pressure on GOP leadership.



"His patience is RUNNING OUT. He wants to see as much of the SAVE America passed as possible by the August recess,” Karoline Leavitt said during Thursday’s briefing.

Leavitt said that Americans want voter IDs “because voter ID is common sense. They want proof of citizenship in our election.”

"The House did its job. The Senate needs to do its job, too,” she added.

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