On Thursday night, President Donald Trump gave an impromptu primetime address that covered everything from the economy to military strikes, but the main event was a sweeping declassification of election-related intelligence and allegations of Chinese meddling in the 2020 election.

Trump Hails Economy, Jobs And Border Crackdown

Trump opened the address by saying the U.S. is doing "great." He then touted the country's progress under his administration. "Two years ago, our country was dead. Now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world," the president said.

He also stated that the U.S. is enjoying unprecedented global respect and investment, adding that more Americans are working than at any point in the nation's history.

The president also praised the U.S. economy, falling crime rates and his administration's mass deportation efforts.

Trump said he took office following the worst inflation in 48 years. However, according to a fact check by NBC News, when he took office in January 2025, the Consumer Price Index stood at 2.9%, close to the Federal Reserve's 2% target. The highest inflation rate in nearly five decades occurred in June 2022, when it reached 8.9% during Joe Biden's presidency. Inflation later fell to 2.3% in April 2025 before Trump's global tariffs were announced, and the latest reading released Tuesday showed it had risen to 3.5%.

Trump Says Rebuilt US Military Is Paying Off

The president then said he had rebuilt the U.S. military into the world's most powerful fighting force, while arguing that recent events have forced the country to deploy it.

"Unfortunately, we're forced to use it now. We won in Venezuela, which is now working with us to produce millions and millions of barrels of oil," Trump said.

He also said that the U.S. is "winning big" in Iran, adding that Americans would "see the fruits of that labour very, very shortly."

However, the comments came as the U.S. escalated its air campaign against Iran late Thursday, striking bridges as part of a broader assault on critical infrastructure aimed at pressuring Tehran to ease its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump Says Election System Is Vulnerable, Launches Integrity Website

Trump then shifted to election security, the central focus of his address, announcing the immediate declassification of intelligence.

"Tonight, I'm announcing the immediate declassification and release of critical intelligence, revealing shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure," Trump said.

He said that the material shows the election system is vulnerable to hacking, exploitation, and foreign interference and added that the information had been withheld from the public for years.

While Trump spoke, the White House launched a new website titled "Election Integrity," publishing documents it said detail key issues related to U.S. election security and integrity.

Trump Says Declassified Files Show Chinese Election Influence

The president said the White House will declassify documents related to the 2020 election, alleging Chinese influence in the process.

According to the president, the documents were compiled by the White House Government Transparency Task Force and the President's Intelligence Advisory Board, with support from senior intelligence officials who he said personally reviewed the findings.

Trump alleged that China illegally obtained large amounts of data on U.S. voters, alleging the information could be used to influence elections.

The president said the data included names, addresses, phone numbers and political party affiliations. However, voter registration information is generally part of the public record in most U.S. states.

Trump Alleges Deep State Election Cover-Up

Trump said newly declassified documents published on the website reveal what he called a "deep state" effort to suppress information about China's alleged attempts to influence the 2020 election.

Currently, there are four documents on the website titled: "Vulnerabilities in Electronic Voting & Ballot-Counting Systems," "China's Acquisition and Exploitation of American Voter Data," "Michigan Voter-Registration Investigation" and "Noncitizens on State Voter Rolls."

He accused intelligence officials of hiding the information from the president and the public. He said he had directed the DOJ, FBI and CIA to investigate those allegedly involved and pursue criminal charges.

However, the intelligence agencies involved were led by officials appointed by Trump during his first term, the Associated Press noted. Those agencies concluded in a Jan. 7, 2021, assessment that no foreign government attempted to alter vote counts or manufacture ballots in the 2020 election. There is no public record of Trump challenging that assessment at the time, AP said.

Election experts have warned the release of declassified intelligence could mislead the public. A January 2021 U.S. intelligence assessment concluded China did not seek to alter the 2020 election outcome, though a minority view said Beijing may have tried to influence public opinion against Trump, Al Jazeera reported.

Trump Calls Current Election System 'Corrupt'

Trump reiterated his longstanding criticism of electronic voting systems, saying that voting machines and ballot-counting systems are vulnerable to hacking.

The president argued the U.S. election system is exposed to attacks by foreign adversaries and described it as "corrupt," reviving previously debunked claims about noncitizens and deceased individuals appearing on voter rolls.

He said the newly released documents show an election system that is "broken" and too vulnerable to defend.

"We're in the process of informing governors, senators, and members of Congress of potential issues in their states," he stated, adding, "If you look at voting today, it's in such bad shape in so many states, and we are committing to fix it."

Trump Urges Congress To Pass SAVE Act

Trump wrapped up his approximately 24-minute address by urging Congress to pass the SAVE Act, which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote.

Voting rights advocates have warned the measure could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. Federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting and documented cases remain rare.

Midterms Loom As Trump Looks To Rally Republican Base

Trump's address came less than four months before the November midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress and shape his legislative agenda for the final two years of his second term.

The president has repeatedly underscored the stakes, warning Republicans in January that losing the midterms could trigger another impeachment effort. Republicans currently hold slim majorities, with 53 Senate seats and 218 seats in the House.

The speech also comes as Trump's approval rating hovers near a record low, with the president aiming to rally his base ahead of the vote. He is also expected to appear at the Republican Party's first modern-era midterm convention in September.