Donald Trump used a primetime TV address from the White House to make a series of extraordinary claims, including that China rigged the 2020 US election. The 80-year-old president reiterated debunked allegations of foreign interference and attacked major broadcasters for refusing to air his speech live.
Declassification of Intelligence on Voting Vulnerabilities
Trump announced the immediate declassification of intelligence regarding what he called 'shocking vulnerabilities' in US voting infrastructure. He asserted the files reveal levels of foreign interference and hacking risks never thought possible, claiming the information had been covered up for years. However, official audits and intelligence reports from his own first term previously found no evidence of foreign manipulation.
Direct Allegation Against China
During his address, Trump directly claimed China rigged the 2020 election, in which he lost to Joe Biden. He alleged Beijing illicitly accessed highly sensitive voter registry databases. Critics accuse the president of trying to sow confusion and spread misinformation in the run-up to crucial polls in November.
Attack on Broadcasters
Trump lashed out at major US broadcasters ABC and NBC after they refused to air his address live. Labelling them 'fake news', he claimed they were hiding the truth and demanded the licence revocation of these allegedly 'corrupt' networks for participating in a plot to continue election fraud.
Health Concerns Raised
Viewers on social media raised concerns about the president's health as he visibly struggled to read the teleprompter. He appeared to speak with a strained, hoarse voice, periodically paused to clear his throat, and was accused by critics of slurring his words.
Legal Developments
Coinciding with the address, legal filings revealed Trump has dropped defamation claims against the BBC's commercial and production arms. However, he is still prosecuting his case against the main broadcaster over a Panorama documentary editing dispute, seeking £7.4 billion ($10 billion) in damages.
