US President Donald Trump has accused China of stealing data from 220 million American voter files and attempting to interfere in the 2020 presidential election, while announcing the declassification of intelligence documents he says support his claims.
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Addressing the nation, Trump alleged that China obtained sensitive voter information, including names, phone numbers, political affiliations and other registration-related data. He claimed the information could be used to influence elections and support illegal activities.
The president further alleged that Beijing wanted him to lose the 2020 election and sought to shape public opinion against him. He also claimed that members of the US intelligence community deliberately concealed information about China’s alleged activities from both the administration and the American public.
Trump said the newly declassified documents, now available through official government channels, reveal what he described as attempts by the “deep state” to suppress evidence of China’s efforts to undermine the 2020 presidential election.
He also alleged that Chinese authorities attempted to financially incentivise American journalists to publish more negative stories about him, claiming Beijing identified reporters critical of his presidency and sought to influence their coverage.
The president directed the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to investigate those allegedly involved in concealing the intelligence and consider criminal proceedings where appropriate.
Trump also renewed criticism of the US electoral system, arguing that electronic voting machines and vote-counting systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Citing an intelligence assessment, he said countries including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, as well as non-state actors, possess the capability to target US election infrastructure.
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During his address, Trump also commented on foreign policy, saying the United States was achieving significant success in Iran and Venezuela. He claimed the US military had been strengthened under his leadership and suggested that further developments regarding Iran would become evident in the near future.