Trump to Address Election Security in Prime-Time Speech

In an upcoming address on election security, President Trump is expected to announce that over 278,000 noncitizens are registered to vote in U.S. federal elections, according to sources. This figure, which would be the largest made public in U.S. history, is derived from a report from the Department of Homeland Security.

However, it’s still uncertain how many of these registered individuals may have cast votes illegally or what actions the administration intends to take regarding this issue. The official noted that the data reflects only those noncitizens registered in states reviewed to date, suggesting the true numbers could be higher. Unfortunately, officials did not clarify how many states’ voter records were analyzed. Under current U.S. law, voting by noncitizens is prohibited, with penalties that can include imprisonment and fines, but the responsibility for verifying voter eligibility lies with the states.

This report is just one of several disclosures that Trump might discuss during his speech, which insiders suggest could change before his 9 p.m. ET appearance.

“Anonymous sources are speculating about the speech, but honestly, no one really knows what he’ll say tonight,” White House press secretary Caroline Levitt shared with CBS. “So, it’s definitely worth tuning in.”

Trump is likely to leverage this information in advocacy for the Save America Act, aimed at requiring proof of citizenship when voting, among other reforms. The bill has faced consistent challenges in Congress, primarily due to Democratic filibusters despite efforts by Republican lawmakers who support it as a key priority for Trump.

Insiders indicate Trump may urge lawmakers to pass the bill. Last week, the Justice Department warned election officials nationwide that counting votes from noncitizens could lead to criminal charges for those facilitating such actions.

Levitt noted that the details of Trump’s speech remain under wraps, asserting it would be shocking, particularly in its focus on election security. “We ought to have the safest and most secure elections in the world,” she emphasized. “What the president discusses will likely highlight current shortcomings.”

She contended that maintaining election security is a bipartisan concern, remarking, “The American public will appreciate what the president has to say.” Levitt underscored that if elections aren’t secure, functioning as a nation becomes problematic, as elections are fundamental to democracy.

Interestingly, she pointed out that the law against noncitizen voting, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, was enacted under former Democratic President Bill Clinton.

In other relevant news, on Wednesday night, Trump expressed intentions to present claims regarding alleged Chinese interference in U.S. voter data and suggested that the CIA was aware of this issue but did not relay the information.

The White House refrained from commenting, and DHS did not respond by press time.