Trump revives claims of election interference during address to nation

By Evelyn Ann-Marie Dom Published on 17/07/2026 - 5:41 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp The US president said he would declassify intelligence data that revealed China had illicitly acquired 220 million US voter files. Trump's claim contradicts investigations that have found no evidence of interference in past elections. US President Donald Trump used a primetime address to the nation on Thursday to double down on claims of voter fraud and interference, assertions he has previously used to deny his loss in the 2020 election. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT His renewed allegations contradict previous audits and reviews, including an assessment made by Trump's then-attorney general William Barr, that could not find any evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 election. “America is back and doing really well, but we still have a major challenge that must be urgently addressed, because no country can be great without fair and honest elections,” Trump said during the address. Trump also said he would release classified documents that showed that China had illicitly acquired 220 million US voter files, which he said includes names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences and other data used to register to vote. "Over a period of years, starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People's Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history," Trump said, adding that the declassification of intelligence data would reveal "shocking vulnerabilities" in the country's "election infrastructure. The US leader said Americans deserved free and fair elections, but claimed the system currently in place "falls catastrophically short of that standard". Trump used the address to justify his push to Congress to pass a strict voter ID bill, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, as well as photo identification at polling places. The US president has spent years raising doubts on the 2020 electoral outcome, in which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, advancing theories that have long been debunked. He did not question the legitimacy of his election wins in 2016 or 2024 during his address. Democrats warned that Trump was trying to revive the false claims ahead of November's midterm elections, in which Republicans fear losing control of Congress amid facing political headwings over the war in Iran. Although Trump also referred to other countries, including Russia, the US president primarily focused on China. The latest allegations risk straining ties with Beijing. In May, Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing him as a "great leader" and a "friend," and extended an invitation for Xi to visit the White House in September. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Trump teleprompter operator suspended for alleged prediction market bets on speeches ICE should continue traffic stops after shootings, Trump says, apparently contradicting new policy Trump watches IndyCar pit stop at the White House Donald Trump China United States US Presidential Election 2020