Trump Speech LIVE: US President Donald Trump is delivering a primetime speech on Thursday. Five minutes into the speech, Trump delved deep into the state of elections in the United States and accused China of interference.
He released “declassified documents” that show how, over a period of years starting during the 2020 election cycle, “the People’s Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history — resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220 million US voter files.”
Trump also alleged that, according to a DHS review of state voter rolls and public records, approximately 278,000 non-citizens who are registered to vote in federal elections were identified.
Quick answers to key questions
What were the main points of Trump’s primetime speech about US elections?⌵
In his speech, Trump discussed alleged foreign interference in US elections, specifically accusing China of compromising election data and asserting that the US election system is corrupt and vulnerable.
Why does Trump believe the US election system is compromised?⌵
Trump claims the US election system is compromised due to unauthorized access to voter data, alleging that about 278,000 non-citizens are registered to vote and that foreign entities, particularly China, have interfered significantly.
How did Trump justify releasing new intelligence regarding the 2020 election?⌵
Trump justified the release of newly declassified intelligence by claiming it reveals vulnerabilities in the election system and supports his allegations of widespread fraud and election interference during the 2020 elections.
What specific allegations did Trump make against China during his speech?⌵
Trump accused China of carrying out the largest compromise of election data, resulting in the illicit acquisition of 220 million US voter files and of attempting to pay US journalists to influence negative reporting about him.
What proposals did Trump mention regarding election integrity ahead of the midterms?⌵
Trump proposed implementing stricter federal voting laws to enhance election integrity and indicated that significant updates concerning voting machine vulnerabilities and election security were necessary.
Even before the address, Trump was widely expected to revisit long-debunked conspiracy theories about his 2020 defeat toand address foreign efforts to influence US elections.
On Iran, he said, “‘We are winning big in Iran, and we will see the fruits of that labour very very shortly.”
Track LIVE Updates on here:
7 am: US election system is ‘not defensible’, Trump says
The US president stresses that the election system in the country is “corrupt” rehashing old, debunked grievances about non-citizens and dead people on voter rolls.
“These disclosures reveal an election system so broken and so vulnerable that no one can possibly defend it. It is not defensible,” Trump said.
6:58 am: Trump assures of free and fair elections
He said he will ensure that “we are never bought” or “hacked,” Trump said.
6:55 am: Newly declassified documents released
Newly declassified documents show that over a period of years starting during the 2020 election cycle, “the People’s Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history — resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220 million US voter files,” Trump said.
That information includes names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences, and other sensitive data that would be needed to register to vote, and engage in other nefarious activities, he added.
This data loss presents an unprecedented election security nightmare. The intelligence even shows that China assigned a data exploitation unit specifically to this new project.
6:53 am: ‘2,78,000 non-citizens voted’
Highlighting how “vulnerable” the elections are, Trump said, “2,78,000 non-citizens voted…real numbers are actually much higher.”
6:50 am: Trump says China was looking to pay US journalists for negative stories
Trump says China wanted to pay journalists to produce more bad content on the president.
“The Chinese government sought to identify US journalists who had reported negatively on the US president and pay them large sums of money to write more negative articles about him as many as they could, and they didn’t care what they said,” Trump said without providing any examples.
“The Chinese government wanted US president to lose the next election.”
6:48 am: US president accuses China of election interference
US President Donald Trump accused China of election interference. Trump, who has often shared election conspiracy theories, accused China of committing the “largest compromise of election data in history”, and he has further alleged that there was a “deep state” conspiracy to cover it up.
He released a showing “key” findings.
6:46 am: Trump blames ‘deep state’ for downplaying China’s role
Trump is blaming the “deep state” for downplaying China’s role, but remember that intelligence community judgments are by design subject to fierce internal debate
6:43 am: Trump releases reports addressing ‘key areas of election integrity’
Trump has released reports addressing “key areas of election integrity.” He reiterated allegations about China’s involvement in 2020 polls.
6:40 am: US President says ‘We are winning big in Iran’
“We are likewise winning big in Iran and you will see the fruits of that labour very very shortly,” Trump said during his primetime address to the nation on Thursday.
6:30 am: Trump begins speech
President Donald Trump is now addressing Americans in a primetime speech that is expected to center on foreign efforts to influence US elections, the latest in what election observers have warned is a campaign to sow mistrust and try to undercut his 2020 loss.
6 am: Trump speech to focus on election ‘integrity’
US President Donald Trump will deliver a primetime address Thursday, featuring major revelations about election security, the White House said, as he doubles down on his false claims that he won the 2020 vote.
Trump has promised “big news” on a topic that he has revived ahead of crucial midterm elections in November in which his Republican Party could lose control of Congress.
