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Trump releases declassified election intelligence, says it reveals 'shocking vulnerabilities'
By Ashley DiMella
Published July 16, 2026
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Thursday evening on "free and fair" elections, announcing the declassification of critical intelligence that reveals, as he said, "shocking vulnerabilities" related to "hacking, exploitation and foreign interference."
"This vital information is for many years been covered up and hidden from you," Trump said. "The American people are beautiful, our great American people. But that all changes right now."
Documents were posted to the White House website during the president's speech.
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President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the White House July 16, 2026. (Saul Loeb/ POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
The speech came as his administration has aggressively pushed policies, legislation and executive orders to secure U.S. elections.
"The documents we will release starting tonight have been gathered by the White House Government Transparency Taskforce, a great group of people, along with the staff of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board, supported by our top intelligence agency chiefs, who have all personally reviewed the findings we are presenting this evening and fully confirmed their authenticity," Trump said Thursday.
Leading up to the address, Trump teased that his speech would be "big news." Trump touted his new Trump Accounts and spoke about how his administration has lowered drug prices, reduced crime and strengthened the border — with the main focus on securing American elections.
Trump said the disclosures underscore its push for stricter election security measures and renewed calls for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, while critics have disputed many of Trump's claims about the 2020 election and widespread voter fraud.
President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House. (SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
The White House released four sections of documents focused on alleged vulnerabilities in electronic voting and ballot-counting systems, China’s acquisition and exploitation of American voter data, Michigan voter-registration investigation and noncitizens on state voter rolls.
Election law expert and senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom Hans von Spakovsky told Fox News Digital that Trump's allegations are shocking, especially given that they are from reports produced by the CIA, FBI, and other intelligence agencies.
"The president should be commended for declassifying and releasing the reports that support his claims so they can be reviewed in depth," said von Spakovsky.
Trump said China obtained information about American voters such as names, addresses, phone numbers, political affiliations and other personal information to form a dedicated unit to exploit the voter data it had acquired.
Reports from the CIA and National Security Agency about China’s interference were kept out of Trump’s almost daily presidential briefings, Trump claimed. Trump also said Congress also was not notified.
President Donald Trump (R) and China's President Xi Jinping inspect a guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. (Kenny HOLSTON / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
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Trump called on the director of national intelligence, the Department of Justice, the FBI and the CIA to launch an investigation and, if appropriate, fire and press criminal charges against those involved.
"To the extent that these intrusions into our election system were covered up, as the president alleges, and hidden from the public, Congress, state election officials, and leadership in the Executive Branch, Pres. Trump is right that everyone involved in that coverup should be investigated and prosecuted for any criminal violations of the law," said von Spakovsky.
Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Trump also drew renewed attention to Venezuela and said newly released CIA documents show intelligence that former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro regime developed methods to digitally manipulate election results.
Maduro was captured by U.S. forces during a mission in January and brought to the U.S. to face narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and weapons offense charges.
President Donald Trump shared a photo of captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima after strikes on Venezuela, on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (Truth Social/ @realDonaldTrump)
Trump again highlighted the issue of noncitizens on voter rolls as he renewed his push for the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship and photo identification to register and vote in federal elections.
"I've also ordered DHS to notify every state about noncitizens on their voter rolls and direct them to remove all ineligible voters from the lists immediately," said Trump.
The Department of Homeland Security told election officials in California, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania that a preliminary review identified more than 256,000 potential noncitizens on the states' voter rolls, according to letters obtained by Fox News Digital.
President Donald Trump delivers a televised remarks from the White House on July 16, 2026. (SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP via Getty Images))
Trump has pushed to get the SAVE America Act passed, which includes the long-sought voter ID and citizenship verification — which Republicans say is key to ensuring elections are safe and secure.
Trump has tried to attach the stalled election legislation to defense spending, holding housing legislation hostage and playing Senate primary politics.
Republicans are running against the clock to pass the stalled elections bill before the party’s midterm window narrows.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-releases-declassified-election-intelligence-says-reveals-shocking-vulnerabilities