Top Democrats have reacted with dismay to President Donald Trump’s latest primetime speech insisting the U.S. electoral system has “shocking vulnerabilities” and alleging a Chinese plot to influence the 2020 vote.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, widely tipped to seek his party’s presidential nomination in 2028, set the tone by warning on X that Trump’s words were intended to sow the seeds of suspicion and distrust ahead of November’s midterms, at which Republicans are braced for a wipeout given the president’s sagging approval ratings.
“Tonight, America watched the ramblings of a mad king,” Newsom said. “Donald Trump’s address was not about the last election – it was THIS one. Before a single vote has been cast, he’s already laying the groundwork to rig this election and convince YOU not to trust the results if they don’t go his way.
“This is what authoritarians do. Don’t fall for it. Organize. Mobilize. SHOW UP and VOTE in November!”
Kamala Harris, the former vice president whom Trump beat in the 2024 election, accused the president of attempting to engage in “voter suppression” in a multi-tweet thread and said his administration had not done enough to bring down the cost of living and feared being held to account at the ballot box.
“The president is scared of your power, and he wants you to believe your vote does not matter,” she told voters.
“He wants you to lose confidence in our electoral system so you stay home this November. He knows how discontent[ed] the American people are, and he wants to make sure that you do not vote. Because if the people vote in their numbers, Republicans will lose.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said: “This president sadly wallows in grievance, vengeance and conspiracy while Americans want their leaders to boldly tackle persistent inflation, expensive groceries, rising gas prices, and terrible cuts to affordable healthcare.
“We Democrats are engaged in doing exactly that, and we will not let this president use delusional bias and a desperate attempt to preserve his personal political power to attack and undermine Americans’ sacred right to vote.”
Hakeem Jeffries, Schumer’s House counterpart, was even more blunt: “Donald Trump is a feeble, unhinged conspiracy-peddling 80-year-old failed president.
“The economy is a disaster under this guy and the American people know it. Pathetic.”
Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff also labelled Trump “failed and desperate” and accused him of “signaling his unmistakable intent to attack these elections and our voting rights, just as he tried to throw out our votes and seize the presidency in 2020”.
“Our answer will be overwhelming,” he promised. “The power of the presidency is nothing compared to the power of the people.”
Influential Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, now an independent, accused the president of “spewing conspiracy theories” and behaving in “authoritarian fashion” while ignoring the financial struggles of American households.
Meanwhile on MS NOW’s The Last Word, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin told anchor Lawrence O'Donnell she now feared Trump would attempt to send in the U.S. military to seize ballots because he is “willing to really do anything to win.”
The president’s address, which was long on unverified claims and previously released information and short on evidence, was not broadcast by the ABC and NBC networks, leading Trump to angrily accuse them of being part of the “plot” to unseat him and suggesting they should have their licenses revoked.
He also claimed that U.S. intelligence officials had withheld information from him on China’s alleged meddling as part of an attack on the “deep state” in Washington, D.C.
Beijing itself has since hit back, however, insisting Trump’s allegations have no factual basis and reiterating that it adheres to the principle of non-intervention in other state’s affairs and has no interest in influencing U.S. elections.
Read MoreHow Trump’s promise of peace and prosperity in Gaza fell apart in six months
Trump-China live: Beijing responds to shocking election interference claims
Luxury British fashion brand boosted by US and China sales
Controversial ex-CNN anchor says he’s considering presidential run
Dem senator fears Trump may send troops to seize ballots in midterms elections
Trump accused of ‘brazen corruption’ with new Wall Street-Truth Social plan
