WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is calling on President Donald Trump to reject Myanmar’s upcoming Dec. 28 election, warning that the vote is being orchestrated by the China-backed military junta to create the appearance of legitimacy.

The statement came from the House and Senate Foreign Affairs Committee leadership, who said the elections are designed to mislead the international community after the military coup in February 2021, which overthrew the democratically elected government.

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Lawmakers Condemn Military-Organized Elections

“Orchestrated by the military junta to deceive the international community, these elections are designed to manufacture legitimacy for the China-backed junta after its 2021 coup and ongoing campaign of violence against the Burmese people,” the lawmakers said.

They urged the Trump administration, along with America’s democratic allies, to speak out against the elections and reject any results that deny the Burmese people their right to freely and fairly choose their government.

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Human Rights Crisis in Myanmar

Since the coup, Myanmar has been engulfed in civil conflict, with severe human rights abuses:

• At least 7,498 people killed by the junta since 2021
• Over 30,000 arrests
• More than 275,000 Myanmar nationals have fled to neighboring countries seeking refuge, according to United Nations data

The lawmakers emphasized that any vote under current conditions—marked by political suppression, party dissolutions, and persecution of former elected officials—cannot be considered free or fair.

“Under these conditions, the United States must categorically reject this electoral farce,” said Reps. Brian Mast (R-Mich.) and Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), along with Sens. James Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), leadership of the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees.

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Trump Administration Response

The impact of the lawmakers’ statement on the Trump administration remains uncertain. Earlier, the Department of Homeland Security cited the planned election as evidence of improving conditions in Myanmar, justifying the end of certain protections for Myanmar nationals in the U.S.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated, “Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability, including the end of its state of emergency, plans for free and fair elections, successful cease-fire agreements, and improved local government contributing to enhanced public service delivery and national reconciliation.”

However, Myanmar advocacy organizations, including the International Campaign for the Rohingya and Campaign for a New Myanmar, have rejected DHS’s claims as “false and misleading,” highlighting the ongoing persecution and instability under military rule.

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Context

Myanmar’s military junta has been backed by China and other authoritarian regimes, using elections to project a sense of legitimacy on the global stage. Critics argue that these elections ignore ongoing violence, suppression of dissent, and the displacement of civilians, making them fundamentally illegitimate.

The U.S. lawmakers’ statement aligns with broader calls by international human rights groups to condemn the junta and hold it accountable for abuses committed since the 2021 coup.