President Trump is scheduled to address the nation tonight at 9 p.m. ET on election integrity, bringing renewed attention to his long-running claims about voting systems and election administration as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
The White House was considering whether the president’s remarks would include disclosure of sensitive intelligence related to China’s intentions or ability to interfere in the 2020 U.S. election, according to Reuters. The intelligence, collected during Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, did not show Beijing had manipulated or changed votes, sources told Reuters.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previewed the speech on Thursday, saying Trump will demonstrate that elections aren’t as secure as Americans might believe. “The president will be making a very important announcement with respect to the integrity of our elections,” Leavitt said, adding that “everything he is saying will be backed by facts and by evidence.” She indicated the speech would support the SAVE America Act, which would require photo ID to vote and proof of U.S. citizenship to register.
Trump has spent years raising doubts about electoral outcomes, falsely asserting that his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden was rigged. Numerous courts and vote recounts found no evidence of large-scale fraud in the 2020 election. The president has also advanced other false claims, including that mail-in balloting is rife with fraud and non-citizen voting is widespread.
The address follows recent speeches Trump gave at Mount Rushmore on July 3 and the National Mall on July 4, according to USA Today. The final draft of the speech was not ready as of midday Thursday and remained subject to changes from the president, a person familiar with the plans said, with several senior White House officials anxious about what he would ultimately say and how it could affect Republicans’ chances in November’s midterms.
Some Republican leaders have urged Trump to focus on issues that matter most to voters, including high living costs and the Iran war. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said when asked about the address, “The only thing I can tell you is, we are focused on the 2026 election, at least I am, and I think most of my colleagues are.” Reuters reported that Republicans are navigating political headwinds as the midterm elections approach, with Trump’s approval rating underwater and voters deeply frustrated by the Iran war and high energy prices.
It remained unclear whether television networks would give the White House airtime for the speech. Spokespeople for the three major broadcasters—NBC, CBS, and ABC—as well as cable networks CNN and Fox News did not respond to questions about whether they would carry Trump’s remarks live, according to Reuters.
Sources
- Reuters — confirmed 9 p.m. ET address time, China intelligence details, Trump’s false 2020 claims, Republican concerns, and network coverage uncertainty
- The New York Times — confirmed primetime address on election security and voting machines
- The Hill — reported Leavitt’s preview comments on election security and SAVE America Act
- USA Today — reported Trump’s comparison to Mount Rushmore and National Mall speeches
