White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt returned to the press briefing room podium on Thursday for the first time since her maternity leave, facing questions about President Donald Trump's upcoming election-focused address. Leavitt sidestepped a direct response when asked whether Trump would accept the results of the November midterm elections, instead urging reporters to tune into the president's speech later that evening.
Leavitt Avoids Direct Answer on Election Acceptance
When a reporter asked, "Will the president accept the results of November's election?" Leavitt replied, "Look... you should tune into the president's speech tonight before you jump ahead to conclusions about what's actually in the speech. I've seen a lot of reporting and misreporting on what the president will say. We hope CBS will take the speech and all Americans should take it."
President Trump is expected to deliver the primetime address at 2 a.m. UK time on Friday. Leavitt indicated that Trump would "be making a very important announcement with respect to the integrity of our elections." She added, "We should have the safest and most secure elections in the history of the world. And what the president will speak about tonight will show you that perhaps that is not the case, and we need to make some adjustments moving forward."
Trump's Recent Remarks Foreshadow Speech Content
Trump's recent comments have offered a preview of the address. On Tuesday, when a reporter asked whether his speech would address "election machines' integrity," Trump confirmed, "It will concern that subject." He further stated, "Our country has to shape up. It doesn't get bigger because without free and fair elections, you don't have a country."
According to MS Now, an unnamed White House official indicated that the president would discuss newly declassified intelligence reports about foreign nations' alleged plans to interfere in the 2020 election.
Trump's History of Election Claims and Legislation Push
For years, Trump has made false claims about "rigged" elections and postal voting, despite having voted by mail himself as recently as March 2026. He has capitalized on these claims to push for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, a contentious piece of legislation that would impose stricter requirements on voter registration and introduce mandatory voter ID for elections.
