Trump claims China tried to make him look 'less hot' to US voters during primetime election address
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump made a series of new allegations during a primetime address focused on election integrity, claiming the Chinese government conducted an influence campaign to make him appear "less hot" to American voters.
He also accused the Obama administration of withholding intelligence related to election interference and alleged that bags containing key evidence were ordered to be destroyed before they could reach him.
Trump also alleged that bags containing key evidence were ordered to be destroyed before they could reach him.
Trump claims China targeted his public image
Speaking during the nationally televised address, Trump revisited his long-standing concerns about election security and foreign interference while introducing new claims involving China and former President Barack Obama's administration.
Trump:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 17, 2026
China tried to make it sound like your president wasn't so hot, while your president was doing a great job. pic.twitter.com/hBjGiSlYlz
The speech also included allegations that evidence related to election investigations had been deliberately concealed from him.
Trump claimed intelligence gathered in 2019 showed that China was working to weaken public confidence in his presidency through an information campaign.
"In 2019, the Chinese government's strategy against the United States was focused on undermining domestic confidence in the US president," Trump said.
"They wanted to just make you sound like your president wasn't so hot, when actually your president has done a great job."
The president did not provide additional evidence during the speech to support the claim, but said the alleged campaign was part of a broader effort by Beijing to influence public opinion in the United States ahead of the 2020 election.
Trump accuses Obama of hiding election evidence
Later in the address, Trump shifted his focus to the Obama administration, alleging that officials withheld election-related intelligence from him through what he described as a "shadow government."
Trump claimed important evidence concerning election fraud investigations was intentionally kept from his administration.
"The shadow government purposely kept election fraud-related evidence away from me," Trump said.
President Trump says burned bags containing evidence were ordered to be destroyed by Barack Obama, who was running a "shadow government."
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) July 17, 2026
Trump says the shadow government purposely kept election fraud-related evidence away from him.
"These bags were supposed to be incinerated." pic.twitter.com/WucZ2c5rq6
He also alleged that bags containing evidence had been ordered to be destroyed before they could be reviewed.
"These bags were supposed to be incinerated," Trump said, adding that the materials were allegedly linked to election-related investigations.
Trump further claimed that former President Barack Obama was overseeing what he called a "shadow government" after leaving office, though he did not present documentation during the address to substantiate the allegation.
The primetime address centered on election integrity, voting security, and foreign interference, with Trump arguing that greater transparency is needed to restore public confidence in US elections.
Alongside his claims about China and the Obama administration, the president reiterated his calls for stronger election safeguards and pledged that his administration would continue investigating allegations of foreign influence and election-related misconduct.
