WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate what he described as Chinese interference in American elections, while releasing declassified intelligence documents that he says reveal serious weaknesses in the country’s election system.
Trump made the accusations during a prime-time address on Thursday, claiming that China had carried out major efforts to collect voter information and influence US elections.
However, the allegations conflict with previous US intelligence assessments, which found no evidence that Beijing changed the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Trump Claims China Targeted US Election Systems
During his address, Trump said he had instructed the FBI to examine alleged Chinese activities related to US elections and ordered the release of intelligence documents he said exposed vulnerabilities in American election infrastructure.
The president accused China of conducting what he called the “largest theft of voter data” in US history.
Trump claimed Beijing obtained information from around 220 million American voter files, including names, addresses, and other personal details.
He also alleged that China stole data belonging to millions of Americans during the 2020 election, warning that foreign cyber activity remained a threat to election security.
“No country can become great until elections are fair,” Trump said, arguing that the United States needs stronger protections against fraud, cyberattacks, and foreign influence.
Intelligence Assessments Challenge Trump’s Claims
Previous US intelligence reviews have not supported claims that China altered the results of the 2020 presidential election.
A 2021 unclassified assessment concluded that no foreign government successfully changed any technical aspect of the election, including voter registrations, ballots, vote counting, or final results.
The assessment was conducted during the administration of former President Trump and was overseen by then-Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe.
The report acknowledged that China had collected publicly available information about American voters, political figures, and public opinion for years but found no evidence that Beijing attempted to manipulate election results.
Declassified Documents Draw Debate
Trump said newly released intelligence material proved that China had targeted US elections.
However, reports examining the documents found that some of the information did not support Trump’s conclusions.
Some released documents reportedly focused on foreign elections unrelated to the United States, while others indicated that US voting systems would be extremely difficult to manipulate on a scale large enough to change election results.
One intelligence assessment reportedly discussed Chinese intelligence efforts involving political campaigns but stated that Beijing did not currently intend to secretly interfere in order to influence election outcomes.
China Rejects Election Interference Allegations
China rejected Trump’s accusations, saying it has never interfered in US presidential elections.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said American elections are an internal matter determined by US voters.
“China has never interfered and will never interfere in US presidential elections,” the embassy said.
Beijing has previously denied similar accusations from the United States and other Western countries regarding election interference and political influence operations.
Trump Criticizes Networks Over Speech Coverage
During his address, Trump also criticized major television networks that declined to broadcast his speech live.
He accused the networks of preventing Americans from hearing important information and called for their broadcasting licenses to be reviewed.
Reports indicated that several major networks decided not to air the speech on their main platforms, stating that such broadcasts are generally reserved for major national emergencies or significant announcements.
Election Security Becomes Political Focus Ahead of Midterms
Trump’s speech renewed his focus on election security ahead of the November midterm elections, where Republicans are attempting to maintain their narrow congressional majorities.
The president again urged lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require photo identification for voting, proof of US citizenship for registration, and stricter rules for mail-in ballots.
Republicans argue the legislation would strengthen election integrity, while Democrats and voting rights groups say it could create barriers for eligible voters.
Democrats Reject Trump’s Allegations
Democratic Senator Mark Warner rejected Trump’s claims, saying intelligence agencies had previously concluded that China did not attempt to change individual votes in the 2020 election.
Warner described Trump’s allegations as unsupported and argued that the president had not provided evidence showing votes were altered.
China Relations Face New Pressure
Trump’s renewed criticism of Beijing comes as Washington and China attempt to stabilize relations following years of trade disputes and diplomatic tensions.
The accusations could create additional challenges ahead of planned discussions between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on economic and trade relations.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, election security, foreign influence, and voter confidence are expected to remain major political issues in the United States.
