US President Donald Trump has alleged that China acquired personal data linked to 220 million American voters, raising fresh concerns over election security less than three months before the US midterm elections.
Speaking during a primetime address from the White House on Thursday, Trump claimed he had declassified intelligence files which, according to him, showed Beijing attempted to influence the 2020 presidential election in favour of former President Joe Biden.
Trump said China was responsible for the illicit acquisition of 220 million voter files, adding that voter data in 18 states was bought, stolen or hacked by China.
The president argued that the revelations exposed serious weaknesses in America’s electoral system and renewed his call for sweeping election reforms.
He also alleged that those responsible for sounding the alarm failed to notify government officials and Congress after discovering the alleged breach.
Trump, however, did not provide evidence that China used the voter information to alter election outcomes or compromise voting systems.
His claims contradict previous assessments by the US intelligence community. A 2021 report by the National Intelligence Council concluded with high confidence that China did not interfere in the 2020 presidential election, stating that Beijing considered but ultimately chose not to conduct influence operations because it did not view either outcome as sufficiently advantageous.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington rejected Trump’s allegations, telling reporters that Beijing “has never and will never interfere in the presidential elections.”
Trump also claimed that US voting machines remain vulnerable to interference by foreign adversaries, including China, Russia and Iran, describing them as extremely exposed to outside manipulation.
He further alleged that a Michigan investigation uncovered a voter registration fraud scheme involving a Democratic-affiliated group but said the FBI prevented state authorities from acting before the statute of limitations expired.
According to Trump, “It was pay, play and cheat,” although he presented no evidence that votes were changed or voting machines hacked.
The president also claimed the Department of Homeland Security had identified 278,000 non-citizens registered to vote, but did not state whether any of them had actually voted or influenced election results.
Trump used the address to once again urge Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration, mandate voter identification and significantly restrict mail-in voting.
The bill has stalled in the Senate, where it faces significant procedural hurdles.
Democrats strongly rejected Trump’s claims, accusing him of attempting to undermine public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the November midterms.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on social media: “Let’s be clear – in America, voters choose their leaders, not the other way around.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also criticised the president shortly before the address, writing: “The president is scared of your power, and he wants you to believe your vote does not matter. He wants you to lose confidence in our electoral system so you stay home this November.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
