President Donald Trump accused members of the U.S. intelligence community of operating a 'shadow government' to conceal evidence of China's efforts to influence U.S. elections during a statement on Thursday night. He referenced newly declassified emails that he claims reveal internal disputes regarding the characterization of Beijing's activities.
Trump did not assert that China changed votes or altered election results but argued that China engaged in an influence campaign aimed at shaping U.S. public perceptions. He alleged that intelligence officials excluded significant reporting from his presidential briefings and highlighted an email from a National Security Agency analyst stating, 'We have deliberately massaged our one pending (presidential daily brief) to avoid any direct links to the election.'
Trump claimed that those responsible for alerting the public kept information secret and did not disclose it to him or others. He used the disclosures to advocate for the SAVE America Act, stating that the newly released intelligence underscores the need for Congress to tighten federal election rules before the midterms. The SAVE America Act, which passed the House in February, stalled in the Senate in March.
The proposed legislation would require proof of citizenship to register for federal elections and photo identification to vote. It would also mandate that absentee voters submit a copy of an eligible photo ID when requesting and returning ballots. Trump called for the elimination of mail-in voting except for specific circumstances, although the current text of the SAVE America Act allows absentee voting with identification requirements.
The emails indicate that analysts disagreed on whether to explicitly link Chinese influence operations to elections. While some officials questioned the decision to 'massage' the President’s Daily Brief, others expressed concerns about avoiding connections to elections for non-substantive reasons. However, the documents do not substantiate Trump's broader claim of a politically motivated conspiracy.
China has denied any interference in U.S. elections, with a spokesperson stating that China adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. Trump is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September. He has directed various intelligence agencies to investigate the withholding of intelligence and pursue accountability for any cover-up.
In response, Senator Mark Warner stated that Americans have repeatedly heard claims about elections that have been investigated and rejected by the Intelligence Community.