Former Trump administration official Miles Taylor said Sunday on MS NOW’s “The Weekend” that President Donald Trump’s message to Republican voters this election cycle could help Democrats achieve a historic midterm victory.

Midterm elections determine control of Congress and often turn on which party can motivate its voters to participate, making turnout messages a central concern for both campaigns and strategists.

“I genuinely think that we are seeing Donald Trump mount an absolutely historic get-out-the-vote effort,” said Taylor, a former senior advisor at the Department of Homeland Security. “The only problem for him is he's doing it for the other side.”

Other panelists laughed after Taylor made the remark.

Taylor was discussing Trump’s recent claims about voting and elections. Earlier this month, Trump said that if his controversial voter ID bill, known as the SAVE America Act, became law, Republicans would hold Congress for 100 years. He also told Christian Republican voters that if they supported him in 2024, they “don’t have to vote again” because he and Republicans would have it “fixed so good.”

The comments put Trump’s election rhetoric at the center of a broader turnout debate: Democrats argue that voting rights are under threat, while some Republicans have expressed concern that repeated claims about election fraud can make their own voters less confident that participating matters.

“Almost three in four Democrats in this country say this is the most important midterm in their lifetimes, extraordinary enthusiasm about getting out to vote in this election. On the other hand, Republicans, their enthusiasm is very soft this election cycle,” Taylor said.

Taylor argued that Trump’s own language may be contributing to that gap.

“It's because there's been a guy at the head of their party for the past two years who's said, 'if you re-elect me, you'll never have to vote again,'” Taylor said. “Unfortunately for him, they seem to be listening! They seem to be thinking, 'maybe we don't need to vote again!' This is the same man who weeks ago on July 3 said, 'if you let me pass the SAVE America Act, Republicans will win for 100 years' – he's telling his side, 'we don't need you to show up, we've got it covered!'”

Taylor added, “That's showing up in the data, and if that holds until election day, it's gonna be a rout for Donald Trump.”

Eugene Daniels, a co-host of “The Weekend,” agreed with Taylor’s assessment. Daniels said Trump’s claims about alleged Chinese efforts to influence the 2024 election could also discourage Republican voters from participating.

“And he's telling his voters that your vote won't count, he's telling them over and over again that they're gonna steal the election! So if I'm a voter, why would I vote?” Daniels said.

“If China or Venezuela or these random countries that he chooses are going to make my vote not count, why would I vote? I've talked to Republican strategists who would love for him to stop talking about this, but it's been 10 years and I don't think he's going to.”

Taylor said Trump’s statements may not only weaken Republican turnout but also energize Democrats ahead of November.

“If you look at the data right now, there is a remarkable enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans, and it's largely driven by Trump himself,” Taylor said. “Donald Trump has made Democrats feel like the fundamental right to vote is at stake, and a lot of folks worry that would result in voter suppression.”