Trump recycles and distorts old intelligence reports, claims US elections worse than third-world countries

Published Jul 17, 06:58 AM UTC

President Donald Trump delivered a White House speech on Thursday, recycling and distorting declassified intelligence reports to claim that US elections are vulnerable to hacking and worse than those in third-world countries. Trump alleged a 'deep state' within intelligence agencies suppressed information about Chinese election meddling. However, a March 2021 declassified intelligence report, written by Trump's own appointees, found that while China obtained publicly available voter registration data, it did not attempt to interfere in the actual election process. The report also noted Russia worked to help Trump win in 2020. Trump used the speech to push the SAVE Act, which would mandate voter ID and limit mail voting, despite Senate Republicans saying it has no chance of passage. Democrats condemned the speech as a pretext to dispute midterm election results. All 24 Democratic governors signed a joint statement opposing the address.