President Trump, in his address to the nation overnight, claimed that China obtained 220 million voter registration files between 2020 and 2023, calling it an 'election security nightmare.' He announced the immediate declassification of hundreds of pages of intelligence documents. A White House source told reporters the documents do not contain evidence that votes were altered or machines hacked.
President Donald Trump, in his address to the nation early Friday, claimed that China obtained 220 million voter registration files between 2020 and 2023, describing it as an 'election security nightmare.' He announced the immediate declassification of hundreds of pages of intelligence documents. However, a White House source told reporters the documents do not include evidence that votes were altered or machines hacked.
The claim capped a series of announcements during the overnight speech. At 04:16 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported Trump's pledge to declassify intelligence on foreign election interference and name 'deep state' individuals. At 04:38, he accused U.S. intelligence of downplaying Chinese interference and repeated the 220 million figure. By 05:50, the address was delivered; CBS cut the broadcast mid-speech, while NBC and ABC declined to air it.
CBS reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources, that Trump would reveal details of Chinese interference in voter databases and that the CIA had been aware but did not inform him during his first term. The White House caveat now raises questions about the scope of the alleged breach.
The declassified documents have not been independently verified. The U.S. intelligence community's assessment that China did not interfere in the 2020 election remains on the record.
5 developments
- DevelopingTrump says he will declassify intelligence on foreign election interference, reveal 'deep state' names
- StrongCBS: Trump to reveal Chinese interference in voter databases, CIA knew
- StrongTrump says 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote in federal elections
- DevelopingOvernight: Trump delivered speech alleging Chinese election interference; CBS cut broadcast, NBC and ABC skipped
Source and signal
- Internal intake