Trump May Address 'Chinese Interference' in 2020 U.S. Election in Upcoming Speech

Reports indicate that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering disclosing information related to allegations of Chinese interference in the U.S. presidential election during his address to the nation on the night of July 16 (local time).

Reuters reported today, citing four sources, that the White House is weighing the declassification of sensitive intelligence regarding China's capabilities to interfere in U.S. elections.

The sources stated that President Trump may use his speech, scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 16, to explain vulnerabilities in the U.S. voting system that could allow foreign interference, and potentially release classified information that has been collected and analyzed.

The classified information reportedly concerns whether China had the intent or capability to disrupt the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

However, the sources drew a line, noting that this information does not prove that China actually manipulated votes or altered the election results.

President Trump has consistently claimed that the 2020 election, won by Democratic candidate Joe Biden, was rigged and has promoted conspiracy theories that foreign powers were involved in changing votes.

The Trump administration has also expressed a desire to strengthen federal control over election administration, a responsibility that falls under the authority of state governments according to the U.S. Constitution.

Former U.S. intelligence officials have maintained the position that there is no evidence that China or any other foreign power manipulated votes during the 2020 election.

A joint intelligence assessment report released in 2021 also concluded that there were no signs that foreign actors had succeeded or attempted to alter the technical aspects of the election, such as voter registration, casting ballots, or vote counting.

However, a very small number of analysts, including Christopher Porter, who served as the National Intelligence Officer for Cyber at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), included a minority opinion in the report, stating that "China has the capability to interfere in elections and may have attempted to do so."

Reuters reported that sources are concerned President Trump might exaggerate this minority opinion to argue that "China influenced the outcome of the 2020 election."

The White House is also reportedly considering releasing data regarding allegations from several years ago that China accessed information on U.S. voters in 2020.

The White House responded cautiously to the report.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "Anonymous sources are merely speculating about the content of the speech," adding, "No one knows what President Trump will ultimately announce."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.