In his extraordinary address to the nation on prime-time television on Thursday night, Donald tramp did not offer a solution to the war with Iran, in which, according to critics, he dragged his country and the international community into, he has already returned to a topic that has followed him for years: the allegedly stolen presidential election of 2020, which was won by Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
Trump has never submitted evidence for those claims, and he did not do so this time either. Instead, he made the claim that the intelligence services had proven it to be true China largely stole election data and manipulated the so-called voting machines through which part of American voters vote. He announced that he would soon publish data on what he called the "shocking weaknesses of the electoral infrastructure". writes DW.
Beijing carried out the robbery
In his speech, Trump talked about the data of 220 million voters, including details such as phone numbers and party affiliations.
"The biggest heist of election data in history," Trump said.
However, according to his claims, not only the Chinese are responsible. Trump also expressed doubts about the correctness of the voting machines used in certain American federal states. He claims that there is a possibility that the digital vote counting is not being conducted properly. He also stated that 270.000 people who are on the voter rolls and are not American citizens have been identified.
"Tonight, Trump tried desperately to deny what has long been clear to everyone, that he lost the 2020 election," said Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democratic minority in the Senate.
"Let's be absolutely clear: In America, voters elect politicians, not the other way around."
Even before Trump's speech, Democrats expressed fear that, ahead of the midterm elections in November, he could try to undermine citizens' trust in fair and free elections.
Just one sentence about Iran
Observers indicate that many expected Trump to offer answers to questions that are currently burdening not only the US but also the international community, including the issue of ending the war against Iran. The president did not talk much about domestic problems, such as inflation.
Trump himself emphasized that it is about preparation for mid-term elections in November, when Americans, among other things, elect a new composition of Congress.
"We must not allow any future election to be stolen," the president said.
For the opposition and neutral observers, the situation is clear. A few months before that important election, support for Trump and the Republican Party is at an all-time low. However, with narrow majorities in both houses of Congress, Republicans must not lose nearly any seats. Otherwise, the implementation of their legislative agenda would be much more difficult.
Among the proposals that are still in the legislative procedure is the law on elections, which has been blocked in Congress for months. So called Save America Act it provides, among other things, new restrictions on voting, including stricter proof of voter identity and new rules for voting by mail.
Trump has previously said that if Congress passes that bill and another additional provision, Republicans would virtually ensure a permanent electoral advantage.
Announcement of a turbulent election autumn
An expert in election law, Professor Rick Haysen, director of the University of California Law School in Los Angeles, evaluates Trump's announcements as dangerous.
"Trump cannot cite a single disenfranchised voter who actually voted, nor can he prove that the voting machines were tampered with," Haysen said.
During the speech, Trump claimed that the electoral system in many federal states is currently in a bad state.
"We are committed to making it right," the US president said. He did not specify what that would specifically entail.
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