Trump Teases ‘Really, Really Big News’ In Thursday’s Primetime Speech: Here’s What We Know
President Donald Trump confirmed reports he will discuss election integrity in his primetime address Thursday, teasing “really, really big news,” though he’s largely avoided going into further details of what major news he suggests he’ll bring.
When asked Tuesday by a reporter if the speech concerns elections, Trump said, “well, I’d rather save it, it will concern that subject, and we’ll have a couple of other things to say, but I’d rather save it.”
Trump said, “it doesn’t get bigger because without free and fair elections, you don’t have a country,” adding, “we’ll be discussing other things too, but it’s going to be a very big announcement.”
Trump announced Monday, without providing details, he would deliver a 9 p.m. EDT “Speech to the Nation” on Thursday night.
Unnamed White House officials told multiple outlets later Monday the speech would concern election integrity, while Reuters reported Trump will detail newly declassified intelligence information on voting machine vulnerabilities.
The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, reported the speech will note claims China may have accessed U.S. voter data, and could also include claims regarding Venezuela and allegations there was foreign interference in the 2020 election—which intelligence officials previously found “no indications” of.
There was some speculation Trump would challenge the 2020 Senate elections in Georgia, won by two Democrats, but an unnamed adviser denied those reports to Axios.
Trump has aggressively pushed for the Senate to pass a voter ID law, known as the SAVE America Act, ahead of the midterm elections—the bill has failed to net the 60 votes it needs to clear the filibuster, and critics have argued the bill could limit participation in elections by introducing new hurdles for people who are already registered to vote.
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., blasted Trump in the wake of the unconfirmed reports he would cast doubt on the results of the 2020 Georgia Senate elections, posting on X that Trump is “afraid to lose the midterms. So he will reheat debunked election conspiracy theories and tell bizarre new lies to deny his 2020 defeat and attack voting rights.”
Trump rarely misses an opportunity to push the SAVE Act in public appearances and interviews. He has repeatedly advocated for its passage while discussing Sen. Lindsey Graham’s, R-S.C., death and he boycotted signing landmark bipartisan housing legislation last week in protest of the Senate’s failure to pass the voter ID law. The bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, and require states to share voter rolls with the federal government.
Trump is also expected to discuss the renewed war with Iran, an adviser told Axios. Trump officially terminated the ceasefire with Iran last week as the two sides have failed to agree on which controls the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has said repeatedly the key waterway is closed, while the U.S. argues it is open. Attacks have resumed and negotiations have stalled, rendering the memorandum of understanding signed by Trump and Iran last month dead. Trump on Monday also declared the naval blockade on ships coming in and out of Iran was back on.