Key facts
- The White House is contemplating the release of classified intelligence regarding China's potential interference in U.S. elections.
- President Trump is expected to potentially reveal this information in a speech on Thursday night.
- The intelligence reportedly does not indicate that China manipulated or altered votes in the 2020 election.
- Some officials are concerned the intelligence might be misleading or exaggerated.
- A White House task force is reviewing documents related to the intelligence ahead of the planned speech.
The White House is reportedly considering the release of sensitive intelligence concerning China's potential interference in U.S. elections, according to four sources familiar with the deliberations. President Trump may disclose this information in a speech scheduled for Thursday night, where he is expected to discuss alleged vulnerabilities in the voting infrastructure that could be exploited for foreign interference.
The classified intelligence, collected and analyzed during Trump's first term, reportedly does not show that China manipulated or changed votes in the 2020 election. However, some officials are concerned that the administration might exaggerate the significance of dissenting intelligence assessments, potentially suggesting Beijing had influence over the election outcome.
A White House task force, led by journalist John Solomon, has been reviewing relevant documents in preparation for the speech. The speech's content is not finalized and could still change. The administration may also release information about a past allegation that China accessed U.S. voter data in 2020, though sources note this data is publicly available and cannot be manipulated.