(Photo: Frederic J. Brown/AFP)
Pres. On Thursday, Donald Trump of the USA once again referred to extensive but unsubstantiated allegations about voter fraud and Chinese interference, thereby firing a clear warning shot in the run-up to the by-elections. Many are already expecting him to challenge the outcome.
In a live speech from the White House, Trump portrayed the American electoral system as dangerously vulnerable. He urged lawmakers to introduce new restrictions on voting. There is little support for these measures, even within the Republican Party.
“We can never watch an election being stolen again,” Trump said, referring to his defeat by Joe Biden in 2020.
Trump said he was releasing intelligence reports showing, among other things, that China illegally obtained 220 million American voter files.
“Over a period of years, beginning during the 2020 election cycle, China carried out what is considered the largest compromise of election data in history,” he argued.
He also claimed that more than 250,000 non-US citizens in four states are registered to vote.
He also slammed American broadcasters who refused to interrupt their regular programs to broadcast his speech live. He mentioned ABC and NBC by name and implied that they were involved in efforts to manipulate elections.
“They and others in the media are part of a conspiracy. Fraud like this should lead to their broadcasting licenses being revoked.”
Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was “rigged” has so far not been substantiated. More than 60 court cases have produced no verdicts that proved fraud that could have changed the outcome, while recounts, audits and his own Justice Department have found no such fraud.
???? HOLY BOMBSHELL! DONALD TRUMP REVEALS CHINA HELPED STEAL 2020 IN NEW DECLASSIFICATION
They got 220 MILLION VOTER FILES.
“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… pic.twitter.com/4YCVFc3X1X
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 17, 2026
Trump hasn’t made much reference to issues polls show voters are more concerned about. This includes the war with Iran and the economy.
Democrats have accused Trump of trying to undermine confidence in the election ahead of November’s midterm elections, in which Republicans fear his unpopularity could cost them control of Congress.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin described the speech as a “dangerous attempt to revive disproven lies to undermine future elections before a single vote is cast”.
Ty Cobb, a former legal adviser in Trump’s White House, said it seems that the speech was aimed at laying a foundation for the declaration of an electoral emergency.
Pres. Donald Trump van die VSA. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP)
Trump has been trying to persuade lawmakers to pass the SAVE America bill before the midterm elections for some time, but even within his own party there is little support for it.
The bill would require proof of citizenship to register as a voter – something already required under existing federal and state law – as well as photo identification at polling places, while it would introduce new restrictions on postal voting.
Trump has never accepted defeat in 2020.
A third state of impeachment may await him if the Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives. He has already been indicted twice during his first term, among other things due to alleged instigation of the attack on 6 January.