President Donald Trump on Wednesday stated he would accept the results of the upcoming US midterm elections “if they’re honest,” in remarks that appeared aimed at casting doubt on the legitimacy of the vote. Speaking to reporters as he departed for a campaign event in Texas, Trump reiterated longstanding and unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud.

With the midterms scheduled for next week, polls indicate that Republicans face the possibility of losing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Trump, 80, acknowledged the potential for defeat but expressed a cautious willingness to cooperate with Democrats should that occur. “We’ll figure a way,” he said, referencing the veto powers available to a Republican president and the need to negotiate across party lines.

The Republican Party is bracing for a possible “blue wave,” driven in part by voter dissatisfaction with persistent inflation and rising oil prices, which have surged amid escalating tensions following Trump’s aggressive policies toward Iran. Over the past month, Trump has intensified his campaign efforts with near-daily rallies aimed at mobilizing his MAGA base. His visit to Texas marked his third trip to the state in recent weeks, underscoring concerns as polls show a tightly contested Senate race in a traditionally Republican stronghold.

During his appearance in Texas, Trump announced plans to receive a shipment of 1 million barrels of oil from Venezuela, a country whose leader Nicolás Maduro was toppled in a US military operation earlier this year. He was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, known for his hawkish stance on Latin America, who has been engaging in rare campaign appearances amid speculation about a possible 2028 presidential run.

Trump’s renewed focus on allegations of election fraud comes after his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, which he has consistently labeled as fraudulent despite lack of evidence. His rhetoric contributed to the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by some of his supporters who sought to disrupt the formal certification of the election results.

Critics warn that Trump’s repeated claims may be an attempt to lay the groundwork for contesting the midterm outcomes, and there is concern he could seek to invoke emergency powers if the results are unfavorable to him and his party. As election day approaches, the integrity of the voting process and the peaceful transfer of power remain under close scrutiny nationwide.