President Donald Trump delivered a televised address to the nation on Thursday evening, and after widespread speculation over the subject of his remarks, he alleged that China interfered in the 2020 election. Former Vice President Kamala Harris responded on X, saying he was “trying to distract Americans from reality”.
In his speech from the White House on July 16, 2026, Trump said he had ordered the declassification and release of intelligence documents and claimed that foreign rivals, specifically naming China and Venezuela, carried out cyber activity tied to the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden.
“Tonight, I’m announcing the immediate declassification and release of critical intelligence, revealing shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure,” he said.
“This evidence shows that the election system we have dangerously exposes us to hacking. It is so broken and so vulnerable that no one can possibly defend it.”
The allegations have not been independently verified, and past U.S. intelligence assessments concluded that China did not seek to interfere in the 2020 election on a technical level.
Trump’s address also landed as Republicans and Democrats are already looking ahead to the November 2026 midterm elections, which will help determine control of Congress.
Harris, who served as Biden’s vice president from 2021 to 2025, pushed back in a series of posts on X.
Before the president gets on television tonight to peddle lies and conspiracy theories, here is what you need to know:
The 2020 election was not stolen. We won, and he lost.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 17, 2026
“Before the president gets on television tonight to peddle lies and conspiracy theories, here is what you need to know,” she penned on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The 2020 election was not stolen. We won, and he lost.”
In the 2020 contest, Biden secured 306 electoral votes, while Trump received 232.
Harris continued by criticizing the SAVE Act and broader Republican policy efforts.
“The SAVE Act is voter suppression. It is part of a larger agenda of conservatives trying to steal power from the people
“Donald Trump and his administration have done nothing to bring down the cost of housing, health care, child care, food, or gas. Donald Trump and his administration got America into a war the people do not want,” she claimed, adding: “He is attempting to distract you from that reality.”
She also argued that the president is ‘scared of your power’ and said he ‘wants you to believe that your vote does not matter’.
“He wants you to lose confidence in our electoral system so you stay home this November,” she continued the lengthy statement.
“He knows how discontent the American people are, and he wants to make sure that you do not vote.”
Wrapping up her response, Harris encouraged Americans to cast their ballots.
“Because if the people vote in their numbers, Republicans will lose.”
The 61-year-old also shared a link for voters to verify their registration status.
As she urged supporters to take part in the election, Harris said voting would make ‘voices heard’ and ‘put a real check on this corrupt and cruel administration’.
This year’s midterm elections are scheduled for November, while the next presidential election is set for November 2028.