President Donald Trump said he will discuss “free and fair elections” in his prime-time address to the nation on Thursday, July 16, signaling that he could use the speech to revive grievances over the 2020 election and push for long-stalled legislation to overhaul voting in federal elections.
Trump’s rare 6 p.m. PT address comes as he is still pushing unsubstantiated claims to assert that the 2020 election he lost to Joe Biden was stolen, while alleging ahead of the November elections that Democrats “cheat” to win.
“I’d rather save it, but it’s really big news,” Trump told reporters on July 14 in the Oval Office when asked whether he will address election integrity in his remarks. “It’s really, really big news, and our country has to shape up. That’s what we’re going to be talking about Thursday. It doesn’t get bigger because without free and fair elections, you don’t have a country.
“We’ll be discussing other things, too, but it will be a very big announcement,” he added.
The address comes as California and other states begin ramping up preparations for the November midterm elections. It also follows months of Trump administration efforts to reshape federal election policy, including support for legislation that would require proof of citizenship and photo identification for federal elections while limiting universal mail voting.
When is Trump’s election speech?
Trump is scheduled to deliver the address from Washington at 9 p.m. ET Thursday, July 16, which is 6 p.m. PDT in California.
The White House has not released a full preview of the remarks, though Trump told reporters this week that election integrity would be a major focus.
According to Reuters, citing an administration official, Trump is expected to discuss newly declassified intelligence related to election investigations and alleged voting-machine vulnerabilities.
How to watch in California
Californians can watch Trump’s remarks live at 6 p.m. PDT Thursday, July 16.
Major broadcast and cable news networks are expected to carry the address live, and the White House typically streams presidential addresses through its official website, YouTube channel and social media platforms.
News organizations including USA TODAY are also expected to provide live coverage and updates as the speech unfolds.
Why election laws could matter in California
California has some of the nation’s most expansive voting laws, including universal vote-by-mail, ballot drop boxes and automatic voter registration programs.
Trump has repeatedly criticized mail voting and has urged Congress to pass legislation often referred to as the SAVE America Act. The proposal would require proof of citizenship and voter identification for federal elections while prohibiting universal mail voting nationwide.
If enacted, such changes could have major implications for California voters because the state relies heavily on mail ballots. In the 2024 election cycle, the vast majority of California voters cast ballots by mail, continuing a trend that accelerated during the pandemic.
The proposal faces significant hurdles in Congress, however, and several Republicans have expressed opposition.
Trump’s renewed focus on the 2020 election
The speech also comes as Trump continues to raise questions about the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Following the election, courts, audits and reviews by election officials found no evidence of widespread fraud or voting-machine manipulation that would have altered the outcome. Numerous legal challenges brought by Trump allies were rejected by state and federal courts.
More recently, the FBI has investigated matters involving election records in Georgia’s Fulton County, where Biden narrowly won in 2020. A federal judge this month quashed a grand jury subpoena seeking information from election workers in the county.
Democrats have criticized Trump’s decision to devote a rare national address to election issues. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told USA TODAY he is concerned Trump could again highlight claims that have already been extensively investigated.
What California voters should watch for
California election officials are expected to continue running the state’s elections under existing state laws regardless of Thursday’s announcement.
However, voters should pay close attention to whether Trump proposes:
Any proposed federal changes would likely face legal and political challenges before taking effect.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: What California voters should know about Trump’s Thursday TV address
Reporting by Joey Garrison, Josh Meyer and James Ward, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Joey Garrison, Josh Meyer and James Ward, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
