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During her first press briefing since returning from maternity leave, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Americans will be shocked by President Donald Trump’s address on election security scheduled for this evening.
“It will shock you if you have an honest eye listening to the president tonight,” Leavitt said on Tuesday.
Trump is set to speak at 9 p.m. Eastern time.
The White House has not released details of his remarks, but multiple outlets report that the president may once again air his long-standing and unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent. Some Republicans are reportedly worried about what he might say.
Leavitt indicated that the Republican would be revealing newly declassified documents during his address.
Networks are split over whether to air the speech in full, with some preparing to only show clips or after-the-fact news reports on Trump’s remarks. NBC News and ABC News reportedly will not show the speech in its entirety on air on their main TV channels.
Elsewhere in her remarks, Leavitt defended the president’s decision to continue striking Iran, stating, “We can hit Iran anytime, anywhere, any place.”
She added that the White House is “closely monitoring” the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Read MoreRepublicans are ‘scared’ that Trump will ad-lib during his address on election interference: report
Trump’s DNI pick Jay Clayton refuses to answer when asked who won the 2020 election
Trump today
- Leavitt says Americans will be 'relieved' by Trump's speech
- Trump's speech has been the source of 'intense internal debate:' report
- Republicans are ‘scared’ that Trump will ad-lib during his address on election interference: report
- Jon Ossoff labels Trump 'world's most famous sore loser' ahead of tonight's speech
- Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors unleash on Todd Blanche: ‘The audacity to say these lies’
- White House teleprompter operator made more than $100,000 betting on Trump’s speeches, report says
Trump wants to be remembered as the 'President of Peace,' but his Gaza plan is stalling
22:18 , Josh Marcus
The Trump-led Board of Peace overseeing the post-war reconstruction of Gaza is reportedly faltering.
The group aimed to restore basic utilities to the war-battered territory within 100 days and get moving on a Dubai-like makeover of the Gazan seaside, but little has been done on the ground to achieve this, according to reports.
Aid coming into Gaza continues to face restrictions.
Many of the billions of dollars the Trump administration touted for reconstruction has not materialized, and negotiations to get Hamas to fully disarm have reportedly hit a stalemate.
Officials are now discussing a far more modest humanitarian “pilot” camp for tens of thousands of people instead of the grand rebuilding plan once discussed by the BoP for the 2 million Palestinians displaced by the war.
Israel, meanwhile, reportedly has not approved the proposed international security force and Palestinian police outfit that will guard the camp.
Little progress is reportedly expected until after parliamentary elections in October.
Who's paying for Trump's $175,000-plus tributes to himself in Washington?
21:59 , Josh MarcusThe Trump administration has committed an additional $153,000 in taxpayer funds to putting up giant banners of the president’s face on government buildings, violating federal laws against propaganda, according to a Democratic senator.
Sen. Adam Schiff of California this week said he uncovered evidence of two more contracts for Trump banners, one for $39,000 on behalf of the Department of Interior, and another for $114,020 on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration.
The funds went to a Maryland-based firm called Grafik Industries, Ltd., according to Schiff. A Trump banner went up in front of the Interior Department last month, and the FAA contract details work lasting through 2027.
The Trump administration has hung huge banners featuring the president’s face across major agency buildings around the capital, including at the Departments of Agriculture, Labor and Justice.
Those banners, plus the ones detailed by Schiff, cost more than $175,000 in federal funds to produce, according to news reports and federal records.
More details in our full story.
Taxpayers covering bill for giant Trump banners around DC, Democrat reveals
White House hosted 'election denial activists' ahead of Trump's speech: report
21:36 , Brendan RasciusThe White House hosted a number of “election denial activists” in advance of President Trump’s speech this evening, during which he is expected to revive his longstanding claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent, according to a new report.
“At least some of the activists engaged in conversations around Thursday’s planned announcement were told to sign nondisclosure agreements, according to a person familiar with the White House’s arrangements and granted anonymity to speak candidly, and attendees of the Monday meeting were told the proceedings were confidential,” MS NOW reported on Thursday afternoon.
“The White House regularly holds calls with stakeholders and other interested parties on a variety of policy matters,” a White House official told the outlet.
NBC won't air Trump's election speech live: report
21:25 , Brendan RasciusNBC News will not air President Trump’s speech live this evening, though it will be available on its streaming channel, according to Scott Nover, a media reporter at The Washington Post.
When reached by Axios, representatives for NBC News, ABC News and CBS News declined to comment on whether or not they would carry the presidential address.
In the past, TV networks have sometimes refrained from airing presidential addresses, including those that are judged to be overtly political.
Trump's speech has been the source of 'intense internal debate:' report
21:20 , Brendan RasciusDuring President Trump’s prime-time address this evening, he is expected to unveil what he will describe as “new information related to foreign efforts to influence US elections” — though the precise contours of the speech have been the subject of “intense internal debate,” CNN reported Thursday.
In the run-up to the address, administration officials have scoured intelligence files for documents they believe could bolster Trump’s longstanding allegations of election fraud, according to the outlet.
But some officials have pushed back on the plan, warning that declassifying and releasing sensitive material could erode public confidence in U.S. voting systems and jeopardize intelligence-gathering operations.
Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors unleash on Todd Blanche: ‘The audacity to say these lies’
21:15 , Brendan RasciusSurvivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse slammed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s two days of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation as less than forthcoming.
Ten survivors of Epstein, the well-connected sex offender who took his own life rather than face trial for his crimes, came to Blanche’s testimony in the Hart Senate Office Building. Many of the survivors have said the Justice Department refuses to meet with them and have also criticized the fact that Blanche has said no more files related to Epstein will be released.
Eric Garcia reports...
Jeffrey Epstein survivors unleash on Todd Blanche: ‘The audacity to say these lies’
US forces carry out another round of strikes in Iran
21:03 , Brendan RasciusU.S. officials said American forces carried out another round of strikes inside Iran on Thursday, marking the sixth straight night of bombardments.
U.S. warplanes and missiles have hit targets in and around the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran has answered with its own barrage of missile and drone attacks across the Gulf, with both governments insisting they are acting in self‑defense or in retaliation.
The renewed offensives follow the effective collapse of an earlier truce, injecting fresh uncertainty into a war that has already dragged on for five months.
At 2 p.m. ET today, U.S. forces began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran for the sixth consecutive night to further degrade Iranian military capabilities.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 16, 2026
Democrats sharpen their attacks ahead of Trump's prime-time speech
20:53 , Brendan RasciusCongressional Democrats tore into President Donald Trump ahead of his address this evening, during which he will reportedly revive his longstanding and unsubstantiated claims about election fraud.
Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee weighed in on X after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was pressed Thursday about the president’s forthcoming remarks. During the briefing, Leavitt faced a pointed question: if Trump truly has evidence of election fraud, why has no one been charged?
“Easy,” Homeland Dems wrote on X. “Because nothing the President says will be backed by any evidence tonight. Donald Trump is the most insecure, thin-skinned President in American history, and SIX YEARS later, nothing he can say will change the fact that he lost to Joe Biden.”
Easy. Because nothing the President says will be backed by any evidence tonight.
— Homeland Dems (@HomelandDems) July 16, 2026
Donald Trump is the most insecure, thin-skinned President in American history, and SIX YEARS later, nothing he can say will change the fact that he lost to Joe Biden. https://t.co/0iZzXf9Js0
ANALYSIS: Karoline Leavitt just revealed something worrying about Trump’s psyche — and his approach to the midterms
20:43 , Brendan RasciusKaroline Leavitt returned to the White House briefing room podium Thursday after eight weeks of maternity leave. Having moved seamlessly from looking after a screaming baby who thinks the world revolves around them to raising a newborn, she’s now back in the room and available to make excuses for the worst impulses of Donald J Trump.
Read Holly Baxter’s analysis...
Karoline Leavitt revealed something worrying about Trump’s psyche and the midterms
Karoline Leavitt touts CPI report as evidence that 'prices are falling'
20:31 , Brendan RasciusDuring her briefing this afternoon, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt touted this week’s Consumer Price Index report as evidence that “prices are falling.”
“Turning now to the economy, Tuesday’s CPI report confirmed what President Trump predicted: prices are falling and this administration’s economic policies are working,” Leavitt told reporters.
The CPI report, published by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed that consumer prices increased by 3.5 percent in June, down from the surge of 4.2 percent in May. So, prices still rose year-over-year, but more slowly than before.
The pullback in the CPI mostly reflects lower gasoline prices as a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran took hold last month. The truce, however, collapsed last week — meaning inflation could once again tick up.
ICYMI: White House teleprompter operator made more than $100,000 betting on Trump’s speeches, report says
20:30 , Brendan RasciusThe man who operated President Donald Trump’s teleprompter for more than a decade has been placed on unpaid administrative leave after being accused of winning more than $100,000 from betting on the content of the president’s speeches.
Gabriel “Gabe” Perez, a technical assistant to the president, is in talks with federal regulators to settle allegations that he used his inside knowledge to place bets and win on Kalshi, ABC News reported first.
Sources told ABC News that Kalshi alerted the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, an independent agency that regulates futures, swaps and bets, to suspicious activity on its “Mentions” market – where users can bet on specific words, phrases or topics used during speeches.
Ariana Baio reports...
Trump teleprompter operator made more than $100K betting on speeches: report
WATCH: Leavitt asked why Trump can't let go of 2020 election
20:20 , Brendan RasciusRepublican senator says Greenland could be run by 'radical mullahs'
20:11 , Brendan RasciusSenator Eric Schmitt, a Missouri Republican, said Thursday that one reason he supports President Trump’s push to acquire Greenland is the possibility that the Danish territory could one day fall under the control of “radical mullahs.”
“I don’t know what Denmark’s government looks like in 50 years. It could be run by a bunch of radical mullahs or something,” Schmitt said during an interview with Real America’s Voice.
He argued that bringing Greenland under U.S. control — a proposal that has rattled Denmark and strained relations with other European allies — would serve “our core national interests.”
Multiple polls show few Americans support taking control of Greenland. Even fewer Greenlanders back such a move.
Jon Ossoff labels Trump 'world's most famous sore loser' ahead of tonight's speech
19:58 , Brendan RasciusSenator Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat, lambasted President Trump ahead of his address this evening, describing him as a “sore loser” who embraces “debunked conspiracy theories.”
“Here's what's going to happen tonight: the world's most famous sore loser will deliver a prime-time presidential sour grapes address to pursue his 6-year-old grievances about the 2020 election, while his war in the Middle East spirals out of control and the cost of living continues to rise for Americans across the country,” Ossoff told reporters on Thursday afternoon.
“Let me be very clear about this: if the President declares Georgia's election illegitimate, or if the President declares Georgia's sitting United States Senators illegitimate, he is declaring Georgia voters illegitimate,” he added.
The Washington Reporter reported earlier this week that Trump would describe Georgia’s two Democratic senators as “illegitimate because of fraud” in his prime-time address. The outlet, which cited an unnamed source in Georgia, later walked that report back.
CBS News wants to take ‘middle ground’ on airing Trump’s speech as network chiefs wrestle over whether to carry it live
19:45 , Brendan RasciusCBS News wants to take a “middle ground” approach on airing President Donald Trump’s national address Thursday night as network chiefs wrestle over whether to carry it live, according to a new report.
CNN Chief Media Analyst Brian Stelter gave his predictions on what TV networks will do when the cameras start rolling on Trump in the East Room of the White House at 9 p.m. ET.
The issue that networks are grappling with is whether they will be doing their viewers a disservice by airing a speech that could be filled with falsehoods about the 2020 election being stolen from Trump. The White House has been tight-lipped about what Trump will cover in his speech months away from the midterms, but the president did give a hint: “Free and fair elections.”
Rachel Dobkin reports...
CBS News wants to take ‘middle ground’ on airing Trump’s speech
Reporter asks why no one has been charged yet if Trump has evidence elections were fraudulent
19:26 , Brendan RasciusCNN reporter Kaitlin Collins asked about President Trump’s upcoming address this evening, during which he will reportedly unveil new findings about the 2020 election, which he has long cast as fraudulent without evidence.
“Regarding the president’s speech tonight, he’s been in office over 540 days now,” Collins said on Thursday afternoon. “If what he says tonight is backed up by evidence, why hasn’t anyone been charged?”
“He hasn’t revealed it yet,” Leavitt responded. “He hasn’t declassified the documents yet, and you will see what he says tonight and we will move forward appropriately from there.”
This week, MS NOW, citing two administration officials, reported that Trump is expected to address “newly declassified intelligence reports that the White House asserts reveal plans by foreign nations to interfere in the 2020 election.”
Federal government officials previously concluded that foreign actors did not successfully tamper with the vote.
Leavitt pressed on Trump family connection to Kazakhstan mining venture
19:14 , Brendan RasciusNew York Times reporter Maggie Haberman asked Leavitt about a billion-dollar mining deal the administration brokered with Kazakhstan — which the president’s family reportedly stands to gain from.
The president’s eldest sons — Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump — took a 20 percent stake in a company tied to the mining venture soon after the deal was inked last September, the Times reported in June.
“What did the president know about his sons' involvement?” Haberman asked Leavitt on Thursday.
“From my understanding Maggie, nothing,” Leavitt responded. “They would absolutely never do anything that would put the president in a place of conflict of interest.”
White House is 'closely monitoring' the cyclosporiasis outbreak, Leavitt says
19:04 , Brendan RasciusKaroline Leavitt said the White House is “closely monitoring” the cyclosporiasis outbreak across the U.S.
“I’ve been in meetings on this very topic,” she told reporters, noting that “there has been an unusually high number of cases.”
Leavitt also dismissed concern that the CDC’s decision last year to remove the cyclospora parasite from a key tracking program had any impact on the current public health response.
As of Thursday, the CDC is tracking nearly 7,000 confirmed and unconfirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, which, while generally not life-threatening, can lead to “explosive” diarrhea. This time last year, by comparison, there were less than 250 cases, according to The Hill.
Officials are working to track down the source of the outbreak. Michigan health officials believe it may be tied to contaminated lettuce.
Teleprompter operator who allegedly bet on Trump's speeches in on 'unpaid' leave
18:53 , Brendan RasciusThe press secretary told reporters that Donald Trump’s teleprompter operator who is alleged to have made money by betting on the president’s speeches is on “unpaid administrative leave.”
Gabriel Perez — Trump’s teleprompter operator since 2016 — is thought to have made more than $100,000 by betting on the president’s speeches on the prediction platform Kalshi, ABC News reported on Thursday.
'We can hit Iran anytime, anywhere, any place,' Leavitt says
18:47 , Brendan RasciusWhen asked about the Iran war, Karoline Leavitt reiterated that diplomatic discussions are ongoing while stating that the U.S. is well within its rights to continue attacking Iran.
“We’re talking to them,” Leavitt said, while adding: “The president is not going to allow them to fire on ships in the [Strait of Hormuz] without paying the consequences for it.”
“We can hit Iran anytime, anywhere, any place,” she said.
Leavitt says Americans will be 'relieved' by Trump's speech
18:44 , Brendan RasciusKaroline Leavitt said Americans will be “relieved” by President Donald Trump’s address this evening on election security.
"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,”said Leavitt, who returned today for her first briefing since taking maternity leave.
Leavitt is pressed about Trump's upcoming election address
18:30 , Brendan RasciusA reporter asked Leavitt to respond to concerns from Republicans that the president’s address on elections could turn off swing voters.
“I would encourage everyone to tune in tonight,” Leavitt responded. “I’ve seen a lot of reporting and frankly misreporting about what the president will say.”
She said that the safety and security of U.S. elections “should be a non-partisan issue.”
Leavitt opens the briefing by rattling off a series of Trump administration achievements
18:26 , Brendan RasciusLeavitt opened the briefing by rattling off a series of Trump administration achievements, crediting the president with overseeing what she called the most successful World Cup in history.
She pointed to what she described as declining prices and promoted the administration’s Trump accounts for children, adding that she enrolled both of her own kids while on maternity leave.
She also said that illegal crossings in June at the southern border remained at “historic lows” before listing off a series of criminals who were apprehended by ICE. “I think we can all agree that none of you would want these individuals living in your communities,” she said.
Karoline Leavitt kicks off his first briefing since returning from maternity leave
18:20 , Brendan RasciusKaroline Leavitt is back at the podium in Brady Press Room for her first briefing since returning from maternity leave.
She is expected to face questions about the Iran war and President Trump’s speech this evening.
Trump's teleprompter operator made over $100,000 betting on speeches: report
17:58 , Brendan RasciusDonald Trump’s teleprompter operator is thought to have made more than $100,000 betting on the president’s speeches, ABC News reported.
Gabriel Perez, who has operated Trump's teleprompter for a decade, is alleged to have relied on insider knowledge to make money on prediction platform Kalshi, sources told the outlet.
Regulators have expressed openness to reaching a settlement deal with Perez.
JD Vance pushes for election reform bill ahead of Trump's speech
17:35 , Brendan RasciusVice President JD Vance pushed for the passage of the SAVE America Act on Thursday morning ahead of President Donald Trump’s speech on U.S. elections.
“Let’s deliver for the people who sent us here and use reconciliation to send as much of the SAVE America Act as possible to President Trump’s desk,” Vance wrote on X.
The GOP-backed bill, which Republicans have said does not have the votes to pass, would require that new voters show proof of citizenship.
Our Republican majority has accomplished a lot despite narrow margins. It’s time for us to unite again and do something that really matters: fund our troops, support our farmers, and secure our elections.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) July 16, 2026
Let’s deliver for the people who sent us here and use reconciliation to…
Trump administration moves to change regulations for journalist and student visas
17:15 , ReutersThe Trump administration announced new measures on Thursday to significantly shorten the duration of visas for foreign students, cultural exchange visitors, and journalists, according to a government notice.
The Department of Homeland Security's new final rule establishes fixed time periods for F visas for international students, J visas for cultural exchange program participants working in the U.S., and I visas for media professionals.
These visas currently allow stays for the entire duration of a program or U.S.-based employment.
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Trump administration moves to change regulations for journalist and student visas
Trump's border czar warns of more 'bloodshed' if Democrats don't 'shut their mouths'
16:50 , Brendan RasciusTrump’s border czar Tom Homan warned there will be more “bloodshed” unless Democrats “shut their mouths.”
“It all goes back to the Dems, who want to continue to attack ICE, tell people to evade them, tell people don’t comply,” Homan told Fox News.
“There's still gonna be more bloodshed unless they shut their mouth and let ICE enforce the laws that they enacted,” he said.
ANALYSIS: Here's a look back at Trump's long history of election denialism
16:32 , Brendan RasciusAhead of President Trump’s address on U.S. elections tonight, here’s a look back at his long history of casting doubt on — and at times flatly denying — the integrity of the American electoral system.
Over the past decade, he has repeatedly portrayed elections as suspect, often preemptively framing any outcome he dislikes as the product of fraud rather than voters’ choices.
His claims stretch back to his first bid for the White House. In the run-up to the 2016 election, Trump repeatedly insisted, without evidence, that the vote would be “rigged” and “taken away from us” — rhetoric that abruptly disappeared once he defeated Hillary Clinton and took office.
Trump’s fixation on elections intensified after he lost the 2020 race to Joe Biden.
On election night, with ballots still being counted, he told supporters gathered at the White House, “Frankly, we did win.” He then spent months falsely claiming the contest was “rigged,” even as courts, election officials and his own advisers rejected his allegations. He and his allies mounted a sweeping effort to overturn Biden’s victory, pressuring state officials, promoting slates of fake electors and helping set the stage for the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Trump was criminally charged as a result of his efforts to overturn the election in Georgia and in Washington, D.C. Both cases were later dropped.
As he mounted his comeback campaign in 2024, Trump again primed his supporters to distrust the process, repeatedly warning that the election would be fraudulent. He adopted the slogan “too big to rig” and urged supporters to turn out in such overwhelming numbers that any supposed cheating would fail.
Since his inauguration last year, Trump has shown renewed interest in relitigating 2020. In January, the FBI raided an election office in Fulton County, Georgia. Trump has also cast aspersions on a host of other contests, including races in California, where he has accused Democrats of cheating.
Through it all, multiple government and independent reviews have found that voter fraud in American elections is exceedingly rare.
Federal panel to review Trump's plan to erect fences near White House
16:08 , Brendan RasciusOn Thursday, the Commission of Fine Arts is set to review a Trump administration proposal to install a permanent fence around Lafayette Square, the historic park adjacent to the White House.
Officials have framed the plan as a necessary security measure, citing what they describe as “several examples of assemblies that elevate into non-peaceful demonstrations.”
The park, long a focal point for public dissent, has recently hosted protests against the Iran war and Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Former DOJ official testifies against Todd Blanche's confirmation
15:55 , Brendan RasciusA former DOJ official testified against Todd Blanche’s confirmation during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on the acting attorney general’s nomination on Thursday morning.
“I had great hope that Todd Blanche would be an effective leader and a responsible steward of the Justice Department,” Elizabeth Oyer, who previously served in the department as a pardon attorney, told senators. “But, he quickly proved me wrong.”
“Two days after Mr. Blanche was confirmed as deputy attorney general, he fired me from my position…I declined to rubber stamp a political favor for a friend of Donald Trump, and it cost me my job.”
Blanche, who was present for yesterday’s hearing, is not on Capitol Hill today.
Former DOJ pardon attorney: I had great hope Todd Blanche would be a responsible steward of the Justice Department. He quickly proved me wrong. I declined to rubberstamp a political favor for a friend of Donald Trump, and it cost me my job. pic.twitter.com/9RgZzouIZn
— Senate Judiciary Democrats 🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryDems) July 16, 2026
Will TV networks air Trump's speech tonight?
15:44 , Brendan RasciusIt’s unclear whether television networks will air President Donald Trump’s address on U.S. elections this evening, during which he will reportedly resurface longstanding claims of fraud.
When reached by Axios, representatives for NBC News, ABC News and CBS News declined to comment.
In the past, TV networks have sometimes refrained from airing presidential addresses, including those that are judged to be overtly political.
There are signs that the address may not be carried live: some Thursday 9 p.m. time slots indicate the presence of regularly scheduled programming, The Daily Beast reported.
Marco Rubio rails against communism in speech, echoing Trump's denouncements
15:34 , Brendan RasciusIn a speech on political extremism Thursday morning, Secretary of State Marco Rubio railed against communism — echoing recent denouncements from others in the Trump administration.
"Communism does not sound good in theory,” Rubio said at the State Department. “The world it envisions for all of us is small, flat, gray.”
"This is a distinctive and unique evil. It has always been driven by a hatred, above all else, for civilization itself,” he added.
In recent weeks, Trump has taken to describing communism as the greatest threat the U.S. has ever faced in its 250-year history, invoking rhetoric reminiscent of the McCarthy era.
He has warned about a communist takeover of the Democratic party after a handful of democratic socialists won primaries in New York. There are no self-identified communists currently serving in Congress.
During an interview with Joe Rogan released yesterday, Vice President JD Vance warned that AI could trigger massive wealth inequality that may lead to a communist takeover.
Republicans are ‘scared’ that Trump will ad-lib during his address on election interference: report
15:21 , Brendan RasciusSome Republicans are reportedly worried that President Donald Trump will go off-script during his address on elections integrity Thursday evening and repeat debunked claims about the 2020 election rather than focus on the economy.
Trump, who has long promoted baseless assertions about widespread voter fraud, is addressing the nation at 9 p.m. ET to discuss “free and fair elections.” The president teased a “very big announcement” but has been otherwise coy about the content of his address.
“The people I talk to are scared s***less,” one unnamed former Trump administration official told Politico. “It’s not scared s***less about the text of what he’s going to say; it’s what does he add to the text?”
Ariana Baio reports...
Republicans are ‘scared’ Trump will ad-lib his election interference speech: report
AOC calls for TV networks not to air Trump’s Thursday primetime address on election security
15:14 , Brendan RasciusAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called on TV networks not to air “lies about our election” ahead of President Donald Trump’s prime-time address Thursday night, where he will reportedly speak about election security.
Brendan Rascius reports...
AOC says news networks shouldn’t air election ‘lies’ ahead of Trump’s Thursday speech
Trump will likely resurface election fraud claims in address this evening, reports say
15:09 , Brendan RasciusPresident Trump’s upcoming address this evening has been the subject of rampant speculation, with reports indicating he will revive his long-standing and evidence-free claims about widespread election fraud.
This week, MS NOW, citing two administration officials, reported that Trump is expected to address “newly declassified intelligence reports that the White House asserts reveal plans by foreign nations to interfere in the 2020 election.”
Axios similarly reported that the president may use the speech to unveil findings from intelligence officials tied to the administration’s review of the 2020 race.
“The truth is, nobody knows yet what President Trump will ultimately say, which is why everyone should tune in,” Karoline Leavitt told The Washington Post.
Karoline Leavitt set to return to the podium today after maternity leave
15:02 , Brendan RasciusWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will return to the briefing room Thursday afternoon for her first appearance since taking maternity leave.
Leavitt, who gave birth to her daughter in May, is scheduled to brief reporters at 1 p.m. after several months away.
I will be back at the podium today at 1PM. Tune in!
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) July 16, 2026
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