Trump speech alarms critics: Midterm election tampering fears rise

Democrats and voting rights groups say Donald Trump’s recent primetime speech is the clearest sign yet that the president is laying the groundwork to interfere with November’s midterm elections. In the address, Trump repeated unverified claims of Chinese interference in the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden. Critics warn this is a tactic to undermine trust in future elections. The midterms will decide control of Congress and many state legislatures. They are also a major test of Trump’s appeal, two years after he defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to return to the White House. Polls show Trump remains unpopular with most voters, and his Republican allies risk losing their majority in the House of Representatives. His Thursday evening speech, which revived false claims about the 2020 election, sparked fears that he is already seeking ways to ensure November’s results favor him.