According to a CBS report, President Donald Trump will reveal in his upcoming speech details of Chinese interference in US voter databases and evidence that the CIA was aware of the interference but did not inform him during his first term. The report cites unnamed sources.
According to a CBS report citing unnamed sources, President Donald Trump's Thursday evening address to the nation will include details of Chinese interference in US voter databases and evidence that the CIA was aware of the interference but did not inform him during his first term. The claim — that the intelligence community withheld information from the president — marks a significant new element in the developing story about the speech's content.
This is the latest in a series of reports that emerged Monday evening (July 13, 22:49 Jerusalem). Initial reports from MSNBC stated that the speech would address declassified intelligence about foreign interference in the 2020 election, not Iran. By the same evening, Israeli media and then CBS specified that the focus was Chinese interference, with CBS reporting that the address had been scheduled for Thursday at 9 PM. The current report adds the claim about CIA knowledge and withholding.
As The Zioneer reported on July 15, the speech is expected to present declassified intelligence concerning Chinese efforts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. The broader context includes heightened great-power competition: The Zioneer has reported on Trump's warnings against Chinese influence, including his statement on July 1 that the US would not allow China to take control of the Panama Canal.
The CBS report is based on unnamed sources and has not been corroborated by other outlets. The speech has not yet taken place; Trump's actual remarks — scheduled for later tonight — may differ from the reported content.
6 developments
- DevelopingTrump says Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit White House by late September
- DevelopingTrump warns against Chinese takeover of Panama Canal
- DevelopingTrump to receive Iran intelligence briefing at 19:00; White House source says US preparing for prolonged exchanges
- DevelopingTrump says Netanyahu 'knows who the boss is' ahead of possible WH visit
Source and signal
- Internal intake