US President Donald Trump on Friday alleged that newly-declassified intelligence documents reveal what he described as the largest breach of election-related data in US history, claiming that China illegally obtained personal information belonging to 220 million American voters during the 2020 election cycle.

In a televised prime-time address from the White House, Trump announced the release of intelligence records that he said exposed major weaknesses in the country’s election security framework.

“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.

Trump alleges massive voter data breach

According to Trump, the alleged breach involved sensitive voter information, including names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences and other details.

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“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,” he added.

Trump also claimed that the intelligence suggested an organised effort by Beijing to exploit the information and alleged that evidence of Chinese interference had been downplayed by what he referred to as the “deep state”.

Claims of political interference

Expanding on the allegations, Trump said China was attempting to influence American politics since 2018.

“Tens of millions of voter days have been bought, stolen or hacked,” he said, while alleging there had been a “cover up of this colossal security breach… They fought like hell not to have Trump win.”

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“In mid 2018, China’s policy was to make the US President resign,” Trump said. He further alleged that Beijing was “working on US midterm elections” and had “attempted to turn US businesses against the President” while paying “journalists to write negative articles about the US President.”

Trump also claimed that intelligence reports concerning Chinese election-related activities were not included in briefings during the previous administration.

“Dozens of CIA and NSA reports were kept out of presidential briefings during former President Joe Biden’s briefing regarding Chinese activity related to elections,” he claimed.

He further alleged that investigators had discovered “burnt bags … bags used to destroy information, given by former President Barack Obama.”

Electronic voting systems under scrutiny

Trump also referred to another set of declassified intelligence documents, alleging that electronic voting systems in the US were vulnerable.

“Americans lied about electronic machines, etc. They were compromised,” he said, adding, “We are making a public intel assessment.”

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“Govs know machines are exposed to attack,” Trump said, claiming intelligence showed that “Russia, China, Iran, North Korea have capabilities to harm the US elections.”

Trump has consistently argued that the 2020 presidential election was affected by widespread fraud. However, multiple recounts, audits and investigations, including reviews by his own Justice Department, found no evidence of fraud that could have altered the election outcome. More than 60 lawsuits filed by Trump and his allies also failed to secure court rulings that established election fraud enough to overturn the results.

FAQs:

What did Donald Trump claim about China and US voters?

Trump alleged China illegally acquired personal data of 220 million US voters during the 2020 election cycle.

Has evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 US election been established?

Multiple recounts, audits and court cases did not find evidence sufficient to change the election outcome.