Trump accuses China of 2020 election interference, alleges ‘largest compromise of…’ — Key takeaways

Trump Speech LIVE: US President Donald Trump delivered his primetime speech on Thursday. Five minutes into the speech, Trump delved deep into the state of elections in the United States, emphasised how “vulnerable” they have been and accused China of election interference.

He released “declassified documents” that show how, 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 — resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220 million US voter files."

Trump also alleged that, according to a DHS review of state voter rolls and public records, approximately 278,000 non-citizens who are registered to vote in federal elections were identified.

Even before the address, Trump was widely expected to revisit long-debunked conspiracy theories about his 2020 defeat to Democrat Joe Biden, and address foreign efforts to influence US elections.

On Iran, he said, “‘We are winning big in Iran, and we will see the fruits of that labour very, very shortly.”

Here are the top highlights from Trump's speech:

1. Trump directs FBI to investigate ‘voter registration fraud’ in Michigan

President Donald Trump claimed tonight that an alleged fraud scheme around voter registration in Michigan in 2020 was covered up by federal officials. Trump said he is asking the FBI director to work with the Department of Justice to “prosecute those responsible for any crimes.”

Among the documents the president said he was declassifying and making public is an FBI file that details that Democratic canvassers in Muskegon, Michigan, admitted to agents that they “signed voter registration forms in other people’s names” and submitted registration for people who didn’t exist.

2. Trump calls for passing SAVE America Act

In his primetime speech on Thursday (local time), Trump called on lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act, which would impose a series of restrictions and conditions on voting and make it harder to register to vote.

“To all Americans, I ask you to pick up your phone tomorrow, call your representatives in the House and Senate, and demand that they pass the SAVE America Act without delay,” he said.

According to Al Jazeera, critics have argued that the bill would disenfranchise low-income people and risks removing from voter rolls millions of women who took the last names of their husbands.

3. Trump attacks mail-in voting

Trump called the mail-in voting “inherently corrupt”. In many states, mail-in voting is the most common way of casting ballots, and there is no evidence that it allows fraud.

4. Trump says he’s ‘committing to fix’ election system

The US president said his administration will work with states and local jurisdiction to ensure that the election system is secure.

“We’re in the process of informing governors, senators, and members of Congress of potential issues in their states,” Trump said. “If you look at voting today, it’s in such bad shape in so many states, and we are committing to fix it." he added.

5. US election system is ‘not defensible’, Trump says

The US president stresses that the election system in the country is “corrupt” rehashing old, debunked grievances about non-citizens and dead people on voter rolls.

“These disclosures reveal an election system so broken and so vulnerable that no one can possibly defend it. It is not defensible,” Trump said.

6. Trump assures of free and fair elections

He said he will ensure that “we are never bought” or “hacked,” Trump said.

7. Newly declassified documents released

Newly declassified documents show that 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 — resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220 million US voter files,” Trump said.

That information includes names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences, and other sensitive data that would be needed to register to vote, and engage in other nefarious activities, he added.

This data loss presents an unprecedented election security nightmare. The intelligence even shows that China assigned a data exploitation unit specifically to this new project.

8. ‘2,78,000 non-citizens voted’

Highlighting how “vulnerable” the elections are, Trump said, “2,78,000 non-citizens voted…real numbers are actually much higher.”

According to a DHS review of state voter rolls and public records, the document states, they identified approximately 278,000 non-citizens registered to vote in federal elections.

“Since Democrat states refused to share their voter files, the real number is actually much higher—yet even this limited analysis found more than a quarter of a million foreigners illegally registered to vote,” it adds.

9. Trump says China was looking to pay US journalists for negative stories

Trump says China wanted to pay journalists to produce more bad content on the president.

“The Chinese government sought to identify US journalists who had reported negatively on the US president and pay them large sums of money to write more negative articles about him as many as they could, and they didn’t care what they said,” Trump said without providing any examples.

“The Chinese government wanted US president to lose the next election.”

10. Trump blames ‘deep state’ for downplaying China's role

Trump is blaming the "deep state" for downplaying China's role, but remember that intelligence community judgments are by design subject to fierce internal debate.

“Members of the Deep State in our intelligence agencies worked to actively suppress and downplay information about the extent of China’s sinister election meddling—covering it up from both the President and the American People,” the ‘Election Integrity’ document stated.

11. Trump accuses China of election interference

US President Donald Trump accused China of election interference. Trump, who has often shared election conspiracy theories, accused China of committing the “largest compromise of election data in history”, and he has further alleged that there was a “deep state” conspiracy to cover it up.

12. Trump releases reports addressing ‘key areas of election integrity’

Trump has released reports addressing “key areas of election integrity.” He reiterated allegations about China's involvement in the 2020 polls.

The report covers four topics: Vulnerabilities in Electronic Voting & Ballot-Counting Systems; China’s Acquisition and Exploitation of American Voter Data; Michigan Voter-Registration Investigation; and Noncitizens on State Voter Rolls.

13. US President says ‘We are winning big in Iran'

“We are likewise winning big in Iran and you will see the fruits of that labour very very shortly,” Trump said during his primetime address to the nation on Thursday.

Trump's focus on election 'integrity'

Before the primetime speech, US President Donald Trump's address Thursday was expected to feature major revelations about election security, the White House had said, as he doubles down on his false claims that he won the 2020 vote.

Trump has promised "big news" on a topic that he has revived ahead of crucial midterm elections in November in which his Republican Party could lose control of Congress.