Trump Blames China for Election Interference, Claims Beijing Aimed to Derail His 2020 Re-Election in White House Speech

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has accused China of a major election breach and that Beijing was trying to prevent his re-election in 2020.

In an address to the nation from the White House on Thursday, Trump revealed a staggering amount of declassified intelligence to the public.

Trump spoke in the East Room of the White House Credit: AP The White House ahead of Trump’s address on Thursday Credit: Reuters

He said the CIA had found China acquired 220million voters’ files – the “largest compromise of election data in history”.

Trump used the speech to promote his Save America Act – an election integrity and voter security piece of legislation that he has been unable to get through Congress.

The address came hours after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt returned to the briefing room following her maternity leave and quickly sparred with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.

Collins pressed Leavitt over whether Trump would present evidence capable of triggering criminal charges.

She noted that Trump had been back in office for more than 540 days and asked why nobody has been if evidence existed.

“If what he says tonight is backed up by evidence, why hasn’t anyone been charged?” Collins asked.

Leavitt replied: “He hasn’t revealed it yet. He hasn’t declassified the documents yet, and you will see what he says tonight, and then we’ll move forward appropriately from there.”

Collins then appeared to ask whether the Justice Department could bring charges following the president’s announcement.

“I don’t speak on behalf of the Justice Department, Kaitlan, you know that,” Leavitt fired back.

When Collins pushed again, the press secretary appeared visibly irritated.

“You’ll have to ask the Justice Department,” Leavitt said.

“I don’t charge people. I speak on behalf of the president.”

Thursday marked Leavitt’s first White House press briefing since she went on maternity leave in late April.