In a primetime address from the White House, President Donald Trump made extraordinary claims of voter fraud and Chinese meddling in US elections, doubling down on his false assertions about winning the 2020 election. Trump alleged that China had illicitly acquired 220 million US voter files and that over 250,000 non-US citizens were registered to vote in four states. He also accused US broadcasters of being part of an election rigging plot and called for their licenses to be revoked.
Trump's allegations, which he claimed were backed by declassified intelligence data, appeared aimed at setting the stage for disputing the results of the upcoming US midterm elections in November. 'We can never watch a stolen election again,' Trump declared, referencing his 2020 defeat by Democrat Joe Biden.
The president's claims come as he pushes for the passage of the SAVE America Act, a major package of fresh voting restrictions. The act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and impose new limits on mail-in ballots, among other measures. However, there is little appetite for such measures even within his own party.
Trump has never accepted his election loss to Biden and has continued to promote unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud. His allegations have been widely debunked, with more than 60 lawsuits producing no ruling establishing fraud capable of changing the 2020 election outcome. Recounts, audits, and his own Justice Department found no evidence of significant fraud.
As the midterm elections approach, Democrats accuse Trump of using these claims to influence the vote, fearing that his unpopularity could cost Republicans control of Congress. If Democrats seize control of the House of Representatives, Trump could face a third impeachment trial, having already been impeached twice during his first term.
