The president called his planned East Room remarks “really, really big news” and said the announcement would focus on election integrity, voting machines and the need for free and fair elections.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the White House at 9 p.m. Eastern on Thursday to announce what he described as major news involving elections and voting machines.
The speech is taking place in the East Room.
WATCH:
Trump characterized the upcoming address as consequential for the country and connected it directly to the security and legitimacy of American elections.
“It’s really big news. It’s really, really big news and our country has to shape up,” Trump said. “But that’s what we’re gonna be talking about Thursday is it doesn’t get bigger because without free and fair elections you don’t have a country.”
The president said the address would cover additional subjects but emphasized that the principal announcement would be substantial.
“We’ll be discussing other things, too, but it’s gonna be a very big announcement,” Trump said.
A senior White House aide said Trump would ultimately determine the final contents of the speech, leaving open the possibility that the prepared remarks could change before the president appears.
The 9 p.m. time slot is traditionally used by presidents for major national addresses, including Oval Office speeches, State of the Union remarks and announcements involving significant national developments.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced Trump’s description of the address during a briefing Thursday, saying Americans would hear about the administration’s commitment to election transparency and integrity.
“I think the American people will be relieved to hear what they are hearing from the president of the United States and his commitment to transparency and the focus on the integrity of our elections tonight,” Leavitt said.
She argued that election security should not be treated as a partisan matter and said confidence in the voting system is essential to the country’s constitutional structure.
“I think all Republicans and Democrats should recognize this should be a nonpartisan issue,” Leavitt said. “If we don’t have safe and secure elections in our country, we cannot have a country. It is a vital part of our democracy, of our constitutional republic.”
“The president will be speaking about that tonight,” she continued. “And in addition, at the very same time, of course, he is working on all of these economic issues that the American people have at home.”
Trump has frequently discussed the 2020 presidential election and has repeatedly alleged that fraud affected the contest.
His decision to devote a prime-time national address to elections and voting machines signals that the White House plans to elevate those concerns as a major administration priority.
Neither Trump nor Leavitt disclosed whether the announcement would involve proposed legislation, executive action, newly released records, federal investigations or changes to election-security procedures.
The president’s remarks are expected to provide the first full explanation of what he has described as an announcement central to preserving free and fair elections and maintaining public confidence in the country’s voting systems.
Original article
Comments