Key facts
- Donald Trump claimed China acquired voter information on 220 million Americans and interfered in the 2020 election.
- He alleged intelligence officials suppressed information about Chinese interference.
- The White House released redacted documents attempting to support these claims.
- Trump mentioned an FBI investigation into voter registration fraud in Michigan.
- He stated the Department of Homeland Security identified over 270,000 noncitizens on voter rolls in four states.
- Trump announced plans for further administration action to control state elections and remove noncitizens from voter rolls.
Donald Trump, speaking from the White House, asserted that China had illicitly obtained voter information on 220 million Americans and interfered in his 2020 campaign, alleging that intelligence officials suppressed this information. He presented this narrative in a presidential address aimed at undermining confidence in US elections, particularly ahead of the November midterm elections.
Intelligence officials had previously concluded with high confidence in 2021 that China did not deploy interference efforts intended to change the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election, though a minority view suggested some steps were taken to undermine Trump's chances through social media and public statements. The White House released a tranche of heavily redacted documents on Thursday, which CNN found contained little new information and did not offer conclusive evidence of Chinese interference.
Trump also highlighted an FBI investigation into a voter-registration operation in Muskegon, Michigan, involving fake names, though the incident did not result in illegitimate ballots. He further claimed the Department of Homeland Security identified over 270,000 noncitizens on voter rolls in four states. Despite the US Constitution granting states control over elections, Trump stated his administration would take further action, including ordering states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls.