Trump recycles false 2020 election claims, cites distorted intel to attack US election integrity

Published Jul 17, 06:58 AM UTC

President Donald Trump delivered a White House speech on Thursday, reiterating false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and alleging that a 'deep state' within intelligence agencies suppressed information about Chinese election meddling. However, a declassified intelligence report from March 2021, approved by Trump's own appointees, found that while China obtained publicly available voter registration data, it did not interfere in the actual election process. The report also noted Russia worked to help Trump win, though less than in 2016. Trump used the speech to push the SAVE Act, which would mandate voter ID and restrict mail voting, despite Senate Republicans acknowledging it has no chance of passage. Democrats condemned the speech as a pretext to challenge midterm election results. All 24 Democratic governors signed a joint statement opposing the address. Trump also attacked voting machines, ignoring that most U.S. jurisdictions use paper ballots that can be hand-counted, as was done in Georgia's 2020 recount, which confirmed Biden's win.