Donald Trump used a 25-minute primetime TV address to claim 'sinister' meddling by China and a 'deep state' cover-up over his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden. The US president said he had declassified intelligence revealing 'shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure.' Critics accused him of sowing confusion and spreading misinformation ahead of November's mid-term elections, which could see Republicans lose control of one or both houses of Congress.
Previous Assessments Found No Evidence
A previous intelligence assessment found no evidence that foreign interference had impacted the outcome of the 2020 presidential race. Trump has long claimed the election was stolen, despite dozens of court cases finding no proof of widespread fraud. Notably, he did not raise doubts about his election wins in 2016 or 2024.
Networks Decline to Broadcast Address
Major television networks ABC, NBC, and CNN did not broadcast Trump's address on their main channels. The president claimed they were involved in a 'plot' and should lose their licenses. Trump also insisted that even when his endorsed candidate for California governor, Steve Hilton, progressed in a contest last month, it was only because of pressure on 'cheating dogs' with unfounded accusations of a rigged vote.
Trump Pushes for Voter ID Legislation
Trump used his speech to push for Congress to approve the stalled Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or Save America Act. This would require photo ID to vote, proof of US citizenship to register, and force states to share voter registration information with the federal government. It would also introduce new rules for postal votes. Supporters argue the legislation improves electoral integrity, while opponents warn it could deny millions of eligible Americans the vote. Given the tight timescale, some on Capitol Hill say there is no way to implement the bill in time for the midterms.
Democrat Senator Calls Claims 'Totally Bogus'
Democrat Senator Mark Warner, vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, branded Trump's claims about China as 'totally bogus.' He stated: 'The fact is our intelligence agencies unanimously agreed that China did not even try to change a single vote in the 2020 election.'
Trump said: 'Every American deserves to know that when they cast their vote, that vote will be counted accurately in a system, and that is to make that system secure, one where cheating and interference are not just difficult but virtually impossible. Unfortunately, the system we have today falls catastrophically short of that standard. China and other countries have been trying to meddle in our elections. Evidence of fraud has been buried.' He claimed that 'members of the deep state' had worked to 'actively suppress and downplay information about the extent of China's sinister election meddling.' He said action was being taken to ensure 'we can never watch a stolen election again.'
