Topline
President Donald Trump will give a primetime speech Thursday at 9 p.m. EDT in which he’s expected to once again make claims about widespread election malfeasance—though Trump and the White House have been cagey about the content of the address.
Key Facts
Trump is considering revealing intelligence information that allegedly accuses China of attempting to meddle in the 2020 election, multiple outlets reported, citing unnamed sources.
The alleged intelligence Trump might disclose was collected during his first term, according to Reuters, which also reported that Trump was likely to talk about vulnerabilities in the elections system ahead of the November midterms.
The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, reported the speech will note claims China may have accessed U.S. voter data, and could also include claims regarding Venezuela and allegations there was foreign interference in the 2020 election—which intelligence officials previously found “no indications” of.
Trump on Tuesday confirmed reports he will discuss election integrity in his primetime address Thursday, teasing “really, really big news,” though he’s largely avoided going into further details of what major news he suggests he’ll bring.
When asked by a reporter if the speech concerns elections, Trump said, “well, I’d rather save it, it will concern that subject, and we’ll have a couple of other things to say, but I’d rather save it.”
Trump said, “it doesn’t get bigger because without free and fair elections, you don’t have a country,” adding, “we’ll be discussing other things too, but it’s going to be a very big announcement.”
Crucial Quote
“As usual, anonymous sources are speculating about what President Trump will say during his speech on Thursday evening. The truth is, nobody knows yet what President Trump will ultimately say,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.
Georgia’s 2020 Senate Elections Also A Rumored Topic
There was some speculation Trump would challenge the 2020 Senate elections in Georgia, won by two Democrats, but an unnamed adviser denied those reports to Axios. Senators on both sides of the aisle have rejected any attempt to challenge Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock’s 2020 wins. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told The New York Times “that election was a closed issue back in 2020” and said “the election in 2026 gives us an opportunity to take a run at and to win one of those seats in Georgia, and we’re going to do everything we can to do that.”
NEWS PEG
Trump has aggressively pushed for the Senate to pass a voter ID law, known as the SAVE America Act, ahead of the midterm elections—the bill has failed to net the 60 votes it needs to clear the filibuster, and critics have argued the bill could limit participation in elections by introducing new hurdles for people who are already registered to vote.
Chief Critic
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., blasted Trump in the wake of the unconfirmed reports he would cast doubt on the results of the 2020 Georgia Senate elections, posting on X that Trump is “afraid to lose the midterms. So he will reheat debunked election conspiracy theories and tell bizarre new lies to deny his 2020 defeat and attack voting rights.”
Key Background
Trump rarely misses an opportunity to push the SAVE Act in public appearances and interviews. He has repeatedly advocated for its passage while discussing Sen. Lindsey Graham’s, R-S.C., death and he boycotted signing landmark bipartisan housing legislation last week in protest of the Senate’s failure to pass the voter ID law. The bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, and require states to share voter rolls with the federal government.
Tangent
Trump is also expected to discuss the renewed war with Iran, an adviser told Axios. Trump officially terminated the ceasefire with Iran last week as the two sides have failed to agree on which controls the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has said repeatedly the key waterway is closed, while the U.S. argues it is open. Attacks have resumed and negotiations have stalled, rendering the memorandum of understanding signed by Trump and Iran last month dead. Trump on Monday also declared the naval blockade on ships coming in and out of Iran was back on.
further reading
Trump Threatens Landmark Housing Law In Protest Of Congress Not Passing Voter ID Law (Forbes)