Trump alleges China meddled in 2020 election and questions voting security ahead of midterms
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- Trump accused China of interfering in the 2020 election during a primetime White House address, claiming he declassified hundreds of intelligence files showing Beijing tried to sway the outcome for Joe Biden
- The US intelligence community previously reached the opposite conclusion, with a 2021 National Intelligence Council report stating it had "high confidence" that China did not deploy interference efforts
- China's foreign ministry denied the allegations, with spokesman Lin Jian calling them "entirely fabricated" and "malicious smears" that have "long been proven to be groundless"
- Trump accused China of the "illicit acquisition" of 220 million voter files across 18 states, but much voter data is publicly available and he presented no evidence it was used to alter voting systems or outcomes
- Trump alleged US voting machines are "extremely exposed" to interference by Russia, China, and Iran, and renewed his call to pass the stalled SAVE America Act, which bans most mail voting and requires proof of citizenship and photo ID
- The speech came as a Washington Post-Ipsos poll showed Trump's approval at 37%, with voters pessimistic about cost of living and the war with Iran
- Democrats, including Chuck Schumer and Kamala Harris, accused Trump of trying to sow doubt about the November midterms; Schumer pledged to fight to ensure Americans can vote "without obstruction or interference from Donald Trump"
Why it matters: Coming three months before midterms that will determine control of Congress and following a Washington Post-Ipsos poll showing his approval at 37%, Trump's unsubstantiated claims — directly contradicted by the 2021 intelligence community assessment — coincide with a renewed push for the SAVE America Act and his call to revoke broadcast licenses from networks that declined to air his address.
