President Donald Trump, in his overnight address to the nation, 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.
In his overnight address to the nation Friday, President Donald Trump claimed that China obtained 220 million U.S. voter registration files between 2020 and 2023, calling it an 'election security nightmare,' and announced the declassification of hundreds of pages of intelligence documents. However, a White House source later told reporters that the declassified documents do not contain evidence that votes were altered or machines hacked — a statement that undercuts the most alarming implication of the president's allegations.
The Zioneer reported on the speech as it unfolded, beginning at Fri 04:38 Jerusalem. During the address, Trump accused U.S. intelligence agencies of downplaying the extent of China's 'malicious' interference, asserted that the data breach was the largest in U.S. election history, and claimed the United States is 'winning big' against Iran. The White House source's clarification, delivered after the speech, offered the first official caveat to the president's narrative.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Friday, Trump had previewed the announcement, stating that 278,000 noncitizens had been identified as registered to vote in federal elections. A CBS report from Thursday, citing unnamed sources, had indicated that Trump would reveal details of Chinese interference in voter databases and claim the CIA was aware but did not inform him during his first term. The claims contradict the U.S. intelligence community's assessment that China did not interfere in the 2020 presidential election.
The full contents of the declassified intelligence documents have not been made public, and the White House source did not address whether the documents support Trump's broader claim that China obtained the voter files. The administration's position on the alleged data breach itself remains unclear, and no independent verification of the 220 million figure has been provided.
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