Newsmax Segment Ended Over Martial Law Claim
Host Kelly Sadler cut off guest Mike Nellis after he discussed claims regarding federal election control.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you trust news networks to fairly manage segments involving controversial election integrity claims?
Newsmax host Kelly Sadler ended a live segment on Friday, September 19, 2026, after guest Mike Nellis claimed outside advisers are encouraging Donald Trump to declare martial law to control elections. Sadler interrupted the discussion to transition to a press conference in New Jersey regarding noncitizen voter registrations.
Why it matters
The exchange highlights escalating tensions surrounding election integrity and the rhetoric used by political advisers as the nation approaches the November 2026 general election. The debate underscores ongoing concerns regarding potential federal intervention in the voting process.
Federal prosecutors have charged 129 individuals under the 1996 voting by aliens statute. Separately, a Reuters report identified approximately 30,000 noncitizen registrations on voter rolls since 2000, which have been attributed to software glitches.
The players
Kelly Sadler
She is a Newsmax host who previously served as a special assistant to Donald Trump until 2018.
Mike Nellis
He is a political strategist who served as a senior adviser to Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign.
Donald Trump
He is the current President of the United States.
Mikie Sherrill
She is the Governor of New Jersey who recently appointed a new acting secretary of state.
The details
Mike Nellis, a former senior adviser to Kamala Harris, alleged that supporters of Donald Trump are pushing for martial law to influence the election. Kelly Sadler, a former special assistant to the former President, cut the segment short to focus on a New Jersey conference held by Governor Mikie Sherrill concerning voter roll management.
Timeline
The federal 'voting by aliens' statute was created by Congress in 1996.
Data regarding noncitizen voter registrations dates back to 2000.
Kelly Sadler left the White House in 2018.
The Newsmax segment aired on Friday, September 19, 2026.
The general election is scheduled for November 2026.
Political Context
The current debate over election control marks a departure from standard rhetoric by focusing on the active application of the federal voting by aliens statute enacted in 1996. This focus extends existing partisan arguments regarding the security of voter rolls and federal authority.
The public remains subject to existing federal voting laws and state-level registration audits implemented by officials like Governor Mikie Sherrill. Citizens should monitor local election office communications to verify their own registration status ahead of the November 2026 election.
The takeaway
Discussions surrounding election integrity often amplify political tensions between major party factions. Voters should focus on verifiable information provided by their local and state election authorities to ensure accurate registration.
Further reading
For more on the upcoming vote, visit the Elections page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Raw Story.
Live Poll
Do you trust news networks to fairly manage segments involving controversial election integrity claims?
