US President Donald Trump is set to deliver a primetime address on Thursday at 9pm Eastern Time (01:00 GMT Friday), promising what he calls "really big news" about election security. The speech, announced on Tuesday, has been confirmed by the White House to focus on elections, including information related to the 2020 presidential election and what the administration describes as vulnerabilities in US voting machines.

Coverage Comparison

Trump has revealed few details about the address, telling reporters that it would be about elections and "a couple of other things." In remarks from the Oval Office, he said, "It doesn't get bigger, because without free and fair elections, you don't have a country." Asked to elaborate, he said he wanted to "save it" for the speech. "We'll be discussing other things, too," he added. "It's going to be a very big announcement."

According to reports from ABC Australia and Al Jazeera, the speech is expected to discuss newly declassified intelligence on investigations into elections and voting machine vulnerabilities. The White House has reportedly requested airtime from major US broadcasters, and the address will be livestreamed on WhiteHouse.gov and the White House's YouTube page.

The timing is notable: the speech comes three and a half months before the November midterm elections, with control of the US Congress at stake. Trump's Republican Party currently holds slim majorities in both chambers, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Key Claims

  • Trump announced the primetime address for Thursday at 9pm Eastern Time (01:00 GMT Friday), as reported by ABC Australia and Al Jazeera.
  • Trump revealed little about the speech, except that it will contain "really big news" about election security, a claim carried by ABC Australia and Al Jazeera.
  • The speech is expected to address newly declassified intelligence on investigations into elections and voting machine vulnerabilities, according to ABC Australia and Al Jazeera.
  • The 2020 presidential election outcome remains a point of contention: Trump has falsely claimed he won the election, while his loss to Democrat Joe Biden is widely established. Al Jazeera reports that Trump has a history of spreading unsubstantiated claims about election integrity, and critics fear he may use the address to spread doubt before the 2026 midterms.
  • Al Jazeera also notes Trump's attempts to overhaul voting procedures, though no specific details were provided.
The speech will be delivered from the White House at 9pm Eastern Time (01:00 GMT Friday). Major US television networks are expected to carry the address live.